488 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1747-8. 



frighten the fish, if possible, that were playing on the surface of the water ; but 

 they did not give any attention ; yet as soon as ever they came in sight, the fish 

 immediately made off. 



Mr. K. thinks this objection of little weight, because the question is not, whe- 

 ther fishes, when they see nothing, can be frightened by sounds only. 



On the whole, Mr. K. shows himself an experienced and diligent naturalist, 

 and will (Dr. B. doubts not) be allowed to have fully proved the falsity of any 

 assertion, that all fishes are entirely mute and deaf. 



Of the Poisonous Root lately found mixed among the Gentian. By Dr. Brock- 



lesby, F.R.S. N" 486, p. 240. 



The following account is the best Dr. B. had received of the poisonous effects 

 of a noxious root, lately found in a parcel of gentian, and exhibited for use to se- 

 veral persons instead of it. And as it is attended with such dangerous conse- 

 quences, he thought even an imperfect relation of facts had better be given 

 immediately, than to expect more circumstances, and wait so long for them, till 

 greater mischiefs might happen, by the inattention of such as are constantly ad- 

 ministering medicines. The account was sent by a gentleman of Hambleden 

 parish, Buckinghamshire ; and is found to agree in general with some other fatal 

 instances that have since happened in London. 



Mary Burgess, aged 6o years, about 5 o'clock in the morning, drank of an 

 infusion of only 1 pennyworth (without other ingredients) of supposed gentian 

 root, in \ pint of white wine: it is uncertain what precise quantity she took; 

 but in 1 hours afterward she faltered in her speech, had such twitchings and con- 

 vulsions of her hands, that the ignorant by-standers alleged the poor woman was 

 drunk; and so left her in bed till 12 o'clock, to sleep it out. On their return 

 however she appeared much worse, was speechless, and remained so for 3 whole 

 days, and knew no person all that time. In her illness a purging came on, and 

 at last carried her off. 



Katharine Woodward, aged 44 years, took about a tea-spoonful of the same 

 wine, and soon after fell down speechless, and her limbs were paralytic near 36 

 hours. She afterwards recovered her speech, but continued ill above a fortnight, 

 and part of that time her under jaw was convulsed, and she bled both at mouth 

 and nose in the beginning. 



Mary Diggins, aged 33 years, tasted a much less quantity of the same wine 

 than the former had done; and though terrified at her neighbour's bad symptoms, 

 she drank warm water with oil, in order to vomit ; yet she soon staggered, and 

 grew delirious, could not swallow any solids, and lost the perfect use of her eye- 

 sight for a fortnight. 



The vague reports of these, and Mr. Pots's cases induced him to obtain the 

 fiivour of 2 or 3 druggists to look over some gentian root, one parcel of which 



