( 157 ) 



Notice of the Effect of the Root of Monkshood fAconitum Nai)cTlxis) on the 

 Horse. By Mr Henderson, Chirnside. 



Four years ago, I dried aud powdered for some purpose a quantity 

 of the root of this plant, and having kept about half an ounce till I 

 imagined it quite inert, I threw it out upon the top of a wall, near 

 which I used frequently to tie my pony. In this situation, she one 

 morning licked up about one-half of it when I had occasion to ride 

 about eight miles. Ere long, however, she began to chew incessantly, 

 and saHva to flow from her mouth in great abundance. Her debility 

 also became such, that she could scarcely carry me, and she was 

 covered with a profuse perspiration. After reaching with difficulty 

 the place appointed, the salivation continued for six hours ; not less 

 than three gallons of a watery and frothy mucus being discharged 

 from her mouth. After this it gradu.ally subsided, and I rode her 

 homo in the evening, apparently nothing the worse, though at one time 

 I had given her up as lost. The situation admitted of no other remedy 

 than a little oatmeal and water ; though perhaps a little linseed or 

 salad oil might have been of advantage, had it been tried. "While 

 suffering under the poison, she worJd neither eat nor drink ; nor did 

 she taste anything till the day after. No permanent ill effects, how- 

 ever, followed. If properly administered, might not this root be of 

 service in some diseases of horses, such as colds, &c., in promoting a 

 free discharge from the salivary glands ? Might it not also be tried in 

 the severe disease called glanders? 



Analysis of Fuller'' s Earth from Maxton. By Eobebt D. Thomson, M.D. 



This mineral is found in round masses larger than the fist, in the 

 bed of a stream at its junction with the Tweed near Maxton, imbedded 

 in claystone porphyry, spec. grav. 2.394. Before the blowpipe, with 

 nitre, carbonate of soda, and salt of phosphorus, it fuses into an 

 opaque mass. With borax, fuses into a transparent bead, — pale 

 amber-coloured when hot, colourless when cold. Colour, yellowish- 

 white or chalky. Fracture earthy, soft, soiling the fingers ; scratched 

 by the nail, tuesite and gypsum. Adheres to the tongue like Halloy- 

 site. Contains crystals of decomposing felspar interspersed through 

 the mass. Its constituents I found^to be. 



Silica, . 57.105 



Alumina, . 31.850 , 



Magnesia, . 2.615 



Water, . 7.280 



98.850 

 Now, this is equivalent to silica, 4 atoms ; alumina, 2 atoms; water. 



1 atom. 



