508 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO J 72 1. 



called the swamp sumach; for the twigs, leaves, and shape, are exactly like 

 the sumach, and it likewise bears a dry berry. 



It never grows thicker than a man's leg, nor taller than alder, but spreads 

 much, and several together, especially about the stump or roots of one that is 

 cut down. As it is of quick growth, so it does not last long. The inside of 

 the wood is yellow, and very full of juice, as glutinous as honey or turpentine; 

 the wood itself has a very strong unsavory smell; but the juice stinks as bad 

 as carrion. 



This tree poisons two ways, either by the touching or handling of it, or by the 

 smell ; for its scent, when cut down in the woods, or on the fire, has poisoned 

 persons to a very great degree. One of my neighbours was blind for above a 

 week together, with only handling it; and a gentleman in the country, sitting 

 by his fire-side in the winter, was swelled for several days with the smoke or 

 flame of some poisonous wood that was in the fire. 2. It has this effect 

 only on some particular persons and constitutions; for I have seen my own 

 brother not only handle, but chew it without any harm at all. And so by the 

 same fire one shall be poisoned, and another not at all affected. 3. But this 

 sort of poison is never mortal, and will go off in a few days of itself, like the 

 sting of a bee ; but generally the person applies plantain water, or sallet-oil 

 and cream. 4. As to its operation, within a few hours after the person is 

 . poisoned, he feels an itching pain that provokes a scratching, which is followed 

 by an inflammation and swelling ; sometimes a man's legs only have been poi- 

 soned, and have run with water. 



A further Account of the same Tree. By IVilliam Sherard, LL.D. R,S.S. 



N"* 367, p. 147. 



The poison-tree grows to the size of alder. I never saw the leaf; the wood 

 is as cold as ice ; when laid on the fire, of 5 or 6 persons sitting by it, some 

 will swoon, faint, or yawn, continuing so for some days, others but a few 

 hours, and others of the company not at all. I handle, cut and burn it with 

 impunity; and so it is with several others, I suppose, according to their several 

 constitutions. It was never known to kill any body, but only to do hurt 

 to some persons. 



Mr. Catesby, in Carolina, calls it a water shrub, of which he never saw leaf 

 or flower. It is a species of toxicodendron, though not named by Dr. Tourne- 

 fort in his Institutions, p. 61 0: but I believe it to be Arbor Americana alatis 

 foliis, succo lacteo venenata. Pluknet. Almag. 45. Tab. 145, fig. 1, which 

 is a species of toxicodendron, that grew formerly in Chelsea gardens. In its 



