VOL. XLIX.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 701 



tion. Castor, which as Mr. W. formerly observed, is antiseptic, seems to owe 

 this quality only to a large quantity of a sluggish fetid oil, which it contains. 



LXXXIIL On the Cure of a Paralytic Arm, by Electricity ; by Cheney Hart, 



M. D. p. 558. 



[This was a case of paralysis rheumatica, cured by electricity used conjointly 

 with other remedies.] 



LXXXIV. Observations made at Guadaloupe on the Brimstone-hill, in French 

 La Soiiffriere, in that Island. By John And. Peyssonel, M. D. Member of the 

 R. A. of Sciences of Paris, &c. and F.R.S. Translated by Dr. Maty. p. 564. 

 Tlie Island of Guadeloupe is not the only one of the American Antilles, that 

 has volcanos and mines of brimstone ; few are without them ; they are found in 

 Martinico, Dominica, St. Christopher's, St. Lucia ; all which islands produce 

 sulphur, pumice-stones, and other substances usually found in volcanos. The 

 mountain, on which M. P. made his observations, is called La SoufFriere, or 

 Brimstone-hill, because it contains ores of sulphur; and its summit constantly 

 emits smoke, and sometimes flames. It is very high, and forms a kind of trun- 

 cated cone. It rises above the chain of mountains that occupy the centre of the 

 island, and run through all its length from north to south. This conical moun- 

 tain is about 3 leagues from the sea-shore, east, west, and south, and therefore 

 almost in the middle of the southern part of the island. In ascending, it is soon 

 observed that the woods differ in kind ; the trees are smaller, and are no more 

 than shrubs at the top, that is, on a level with the other mountains. Here you 

 meet with none but mountain-mangles, whose wood is crooked and bends down- 

 wards, and their bark is a true Jesuit's bark. Having arrived at the spring-head 

 of the river of galleons, south of the brimstone-hill, at the place called the Three 

 Springs, the waters were so hot as not to be borne. The neighbouring ground 

 smokes, and is full of brown earth like the dross of iron. In other places the 

 earth is red like colcothar, and even dyes the fingers ; but these earths are taste- 

 less. Near these 3 burning hot springs are some others, that are lukewarm, and 

 some very cold. They put some eggs into the hot ones, and they were boiled 

 in 3 minutes, and hard in 7- 



Gk)ing on, about the length of 400 paces, they began to get sight of the 

 windward, or of the eastern coast of the island. Having passed this moun- 

 tain of the 3 rivers, and the valley between it and the Brimstone-hill, they began 

 to ascend the latter, where they were obliged to help themselves with their hands, 

 feet, elbows, and knees, and to hold by the fern, aloes, and other plants, some 

 of which were prickly, and very troublesome. They were about an hour and a 

 half getting up to the height of about 500 feet, when they reached the gulf, at 

 the place whence the smoke issues. This place is at the foot of a steep bank. 



