CHERRY LAUREL. 249 



laurel-water ; and unless this is strongly imbued with the oil, or 

 given in a large dose, it proves innocent. 



Dr. Cullen observes, that the sedative power of the lauro-cerasus 

 acts upon the nervous system in a different manner from opium and 

 other narcotic substances, whose primary action is upon the animal 

 functions : for the lauro-cerasus does not occasion sleep, nor does 

 it produce local inflammation, but seems to act directly upon the 

 vital powers. Abbe Fontana supposes that this poison destroys 

 animal life, by exerting its effects upon the blood ; but the experi- 

 ments and observations from which he draws this opinion are evi- 

 dently inconclusive. It may also be remarked, that many of the 

 Abbe's experiments contradict each other. 



Thus it appears, from the citation given above, that the poison of 

 this vegetable, when applied to wounds, does not produce a fatal 

 effect ; but future experiments led the Abbe to assert, that the oil 

 of the lauro-cerasus, " whether given internally, or applied to the 

 wounds of animals, is one of the most terrible and deadly poisons 

 known.'' 



Though this vegetable seems to have escaped the notice of Stoerck, 

 yet it is not without advocates for its medicinal use. Linnaeus in- 

 forms us, that in Switzerland it is commonly and successfully used 

 in pulmonary complaints. Langrish mentions its efficacy in agues; 

 and as Bergius found bitter almonds to have this effect, we may 

 from analogy conclude, that this power of the lauro-cerasus is well 

 established. Baylies found that it possessed a remarkable power of 

 diluting the blood, and from experience recommended it in all eases 

 of disease supposed to proceed from too dense a state of that fluid; 

 adducing particular instances of its efficacy in rheumatism, asthma, 

 and in schirrous affections. Nor does this author seem to have been 

 much" afraid of the deleterious quality of the lauro-cerasus, as he 

 directs a pound of its leaves to be macerated in a pint of water, of 

 which be gives from thirty to sixty drops three or four times a day. 



[Phil, Trans, Linn. Woodville. 



