CXTLPEPSB'fel COHPLETX RIBBAX% 399 



poiBODOus qualities, that rise by distillation. In this form, 

 it is the most active vegetable poison known in the whole 

 world, for in a small dose it instantly induces death with- 

 out any previous disorder ; and its deleterious power 

 seems to act upon the nervous system, without exciting 

 the least inflammatioo in the part to which it more imme« 

 diately enters It totally differs from opium and all other 

 sleepy poisons, for it does not bring on the lethargic symp- 

 toms, but more effectually |>enetrates and destroys the vi- 

 tal functions, without immediately affecting the animal. 

 These observations are made as a caution against any 

 rash application of it, for, though it is sometimes given 

 usefully in obstructions of the liver and bilious complaints, 

 those experiments seem too few to recommend it to be 

 used witnout the greatest caution. The deleterious qual- 

 itiat of laurel-water are more than equalled by thi& 



YUCCA, OR JVCCA^^Fucca Oloriosa,) 



Called also Adam's Needle. 



Descnp. — This Indian plant has a thick tuberous root, 

 spreading in time into many tuberous heads, whence shoot 

 forth many long, hard, and hollow leaves, very sharp- 

 pointed, compassing one another at the bottom, of a grey- 

 ish green colour, abiding continually, or seldom falling 

 away, with sundry hard threads running in them, and 

 when withered, become pliant to bind things with. From 

 the midst of these spring forth a strong round stalk, divi- 

 ded into several branches, whereon stand divers somewhat 

 large white flowers, hanging downwards, consisting of six 

 leaves, with divers veins, of a weak reddish, or blueish 

 colour, spread on the back of the outer leaves from the 

 middle to the bottom, not reaching to the edge of any 

 leaf, which abide not lon^, but quickly fall awsy. 



P'ace.—li grows in divers places of the West-Indies, ai 

 in Virginia and New England, 



Tims. — It flowers about the latter end of July. 



Virtues. — It has no properties, as yet known of, for 

 medicinal use. The natives in Virginia use the roots for 

 bread. The raw juice is dangerous, if not deadly, and 

 it is suppoHetj the Indians poisoned the heads of their 

 'Urts therewith. 



