230 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1668. 



Europe? — 30. Whether in those parts the Indians cure the bi tings of serpents 

 by eating fresh citron pills; and by applying the unguent made of . the bruised 

 head of the wounding serpent, and put hot upon the wound ? — 3 1 . Whether 

 the woodlice in those countries, generated out of rotten wood, are able not only 

 to eat through trunks in a day or two, and to spoil linen, clothes, and books, 

 (of which last they are said to spare only what is written or printed;) but also 

 to gnaw the props which support the cottages, so that they fall ? And whether 

 the remedy against the latter mischief is, to turn the ends of the wood that is 

 fixed in the ground, or to rub the wood with the oil of that kind of palma 

 Christi with which the natives rub their heads to secure them from vermin? — 



32. Whether that sort of vermin called ravets spare nothing of what they 

 meet with (either of paper, cloths, linen, and woollen) but silk and cotton ? — 



33. Whether the little cirons called chiques, bred out of dust, when they pierce 

 once into the feet, and under the nails of the toes, over-run the whole body, 

 unless they be drawn out betimes? And whether at first they cause but a little 

 itch, but afterwards having pierced the skin, raise a great inflammation in the 

 part affected, and become in a small time as large as a pea, producing innumer- 

 able nits, that breed others ? 



Answers to some of the Queries relative to Vegetables. 



1 . There is nothing improbable in this ; since it is well known that several animals in whose food 

 madder has been mixed, will, after a certain time, have even the bones tinged red. 



2. It is expressly affirmed by authors of good credit, that the white-headed pigeon, (columba 

 lencocephala, Lin.) a species very common in America, is either bitter or sweet according to its food. 

 See Latham's Synopsis, vol. ii. p.6\6. 



5. The Sapindus Saponaria, Lin. known in North America by the naipe of tlie soap tree, is a tree 

 with a stem of moderate thickness, upright branches, and winged leaves : it bears round berries re- 

 sembling plums, having a large smooth stone or kernel, covered with a slight pulp, which is of a 

 saponaceous quality, and may be used for washing, but is said to injure tlie linen by its acrimony. 



6. This seems to be tlie mangrove, (rhizophora mangle, Lin.) a tree from tliirty to forty feet 

 high, witih a thickish stem, smooth bark, and pendulous branches, with laurel-like leaves towards 

 the tips. The branches which happen to touch the ground take root, and producing similar stems and 

 branches, propagate the tree in arcades to a vast extent, in tlie same manner as the ficus religiosa, Lin. 

 The bark is used in tanning. 



8. According to Sloane, the root of the manioc or cassava, (latropha manihot, Lin.) " is of the 

 most general use of any provision all over the West Indies, especially in the hotter parts, and is 

 used to victual ships." 



9. Swelling of the whole body j severe vomitings and purgings ; giddiness, swoonings, and some- 

 times death. See Sloane's Jamaica, &c. 



1 1 . The oil of the ricinus or palma Christi, is at present in high esteem as a catliartic, and is com- 

 monly known by the name of castor oil. 



12. Nothing improbable in this. Sloane describes a highly sensitive species under the name of 

 sensible-grass. Mimosa herbacea, &c. which spreads over large spots of ground in many parts of 



