VOL. XVII.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 575 



architects, is uncertain. Balbi names the Romans and Alexander the Great ; 

 others the Chinese ; Mr. Flower the Abissins, who have some few churches cut 

 in the rocks ; but Alvarez, who saw them twice, says the country affirms they 

 were made by Egyptians, or other white men. But though their origin be 

 obscure, their end may more easily be declared, for the Portuguese, on build- 

 ing of Goa, began to destroy them, and have continued to do so ever since. 



On some strange Effects from eating Dog-mercury ;* by Mr. T. M. in Salop. 

 With some Remarks by Hans Sloane, M. D. S. R. S. N° 203, p. 875. 



About 3 weeks ago, a woman went into the fields, and gathered some herbs, 

 and having first boiled them, fried them with bacon, for her own • and her 

 family's supper. After they had been about 2 hours in bed, one of the children 

 fell very sick, and presently after the other two ; which obliged the man and his 

 wife to rise, and take the children to the fire, where they vomited and purged, 

 and within half an hour fell fast asleep. They put the children to bed as they 

 were asleep, then they themselves went to bed, and fell faster asleep than ever 

 they had done before. The man waked the next morning, about 3 hours after 

 his usual time, went to his labour, and so by the strength of his constitution 

 carried it off; but he says, he thought his chin had been all the day in a fire, and 

 was forced to keep his hat full of water by him all the day long, and frequently to 

 dip his chin in it, as he was at his work. The woman awoke some time after 

 her husband, and got up, though she was very sick, and has continued so till 

 within these few days ; since which she is very well recovered. One of their 

 children slept from that night which was Thursday, till the Monday evening 

 following; and then, having only just opened her eyes, without speaking one 

 word, died immediately, while she was asleep. The other two children slept 

 about 24 hours, and on their wakening fell a vomiting and purging again, which 

 probably saved their lives. 



Some of the same herb was sent to the doctors and apothecaries in Salop, 

 who generally say it is dog-mercury, but some say it is a sort of night shade; 

 whatever it be, it is certainly poisonous, and it is observed that the cattle never 

 eat it. The man says ne never eat so pleasant an herb in his life ; and his wife 

 says that her old master, Mr. Moxon, did frequently eat of it ; but I guess it 

 to be a mistake. I am no botanist, but 1 observed that the herb is branched 

 and seeded something like spinage or mercury, but leaved rather like lakeweed ; 

 and the leaves are dented. 



Dr. Sloane procured a dried specimen of the herb ; and he found it to be the 



* Mercurialis perennig. Linn. 



