VOL. XLII.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 543 



dial remedies can put the least stop to the efficacy of its venom, or retard death, 

 and put it off, longer than the intention of the cunning poisoner had fixed it, 

 in proportioning the dose. 



" He adds, that the Spaniards have knowledge of this very poison, and was 

 satisfied that he had seen several Bucaneers die of it, given them by Spanish 

 women. He was also persuaded, that the same poison is used in Spain and 

 Italy. 



" This poison has but one specific antidote yet known ; the knowledge of 

 which cost him very dear : and it was with much difficulty he could persuade a 

 famous negro poisoner to part with his secret. 



" The antidote is, the root of the sensible weed, as it is commonly called, 

 or herba sensitiva. It grows like a shrub, has no prickles, blossoms yellow, 

 and bears little cods, full of small black pretty seeds, of which the women 

 make necklaces and bracelets. Take none of the root but what is in the 

 ground ; wash it well, and split it in two. Take a good handful of these roots 

 so split, and steep them in 3 quarts of good clear water in an earthen glazed 

 pot, having a cover. Use but a moderate fire, that it may boil very gently. 

 The decoction has no ill taste, and you may either give it so, or add sugar, as 

 ycu shall think best. Give to the patient a good glass of this decoction, as 

 warm as he can drink it ; an hour after give another, and so for some time, as 

 you shall think it necessary to make a perfect cure. There is no danger of 

 giving too much ; it can do no harm at all. Several people have taken this de- 

 coction, though they have not been poisoned, thinking it would do them good 

 in other distempers; so that one who any ways suspects he has had some of that 

 poison given him, may drink it very safely, and in what quantity he pleases. 

 The rest of the plant is to be rejected as bad and noxious." 



The Doctor enforces his observations by remarking, that he had been a prac- 

 titioner in those parts for above 25 years. Many Negroes, he says were wonder- 

 fully preserved and cured by taking this antidote, though, for brevity's sake, 

 he gives but one instance ; which is, " of a strong negro man, about 30 years 

 of age, and in perfect health, who being one night at a plantation 4 miles 

 distant from that where he lived, was invited to drink a dram of rum, by another 

 negro, who mixed poison with it. The fellow drank it up, perceiving nothing 

 to be in it ; but as he was taking leave, on the other's bidding him farewel, and 

 telling him he should never see him again, he suspected he was poisoned ; and 

 putting his finger in his mouth, vomited up great part of the poison, though 

 there remained enough of it to cause continual evacuations in him upwards 

 and downwards ; of excrements first, then of humours, and lastly of blood. 



