FAMILY HERBAL. 3:>5 



tame with it, but that is an error : the kernels of 

 the fruit of that tree, are indeed of the shape 

 of the vomic nil's, but they are not half so big. 

 The tree is large and spreading : the branches 

 are numerous, and the leaves are large : they stand 

 in pairs opposite to one another ; and are oblong, 

 jbi-oadest in the middle, and rounded or blunt at 

 the end, and of a very bitter taste ; the flowers 

 are small, and stand iu clusters at certain parts 

 of the young branches : the fruit is of the big- 

 ness of an apple, and is yellow when ripe. The 

 kernels in this are what we call mix vomica ; 

 there arc fifteen of them in each fruit, and they 

 are lodged in three divisions. 



These kernels arc the only part used ; our drug- 

 gists keep them ; they are round, flat, and of a 

 whitish colour, very firm, and tough. They 

 have been used as poison to dogs, cats, and other 

 animals ; but there are those who give them to 

 the human species, in small doses, without mischief, 

 and with very good effect. Quartan agues that 

 have stood it against the bark, have been cured 

 by them ; but if the dose be too large, they 

 bring on convulsions, and there is great reason to be- 

 lieve, that in very large ones they would kill. 

 At present we have choice of so many medicines 

 for every disorder, that it is almost unpardonable 

 to give such as are suspicious. Some people 

 have ventured to give even ratsbane, as a medi- 

 cine, mixed with other things, and in the twenti- 

 eth part of a grain for a dose ; but reason con- 

 demns this rash way of practice, and doubly, as 

 there is no necessity to authorize it. 



