VEGETABLE POISONS. 207 



other; as I have often witnessed in the West 

 Indies. The land crab of St. Domingo feeds on 

 the leaves of the manchineel tree, which, to every 

 other animal, is an active poison ; and many 

 other illustrations might be offered in confirma- 

 tion of the variable operation of the vegetable 

 poisons upon different animals. 



The articles, therefore, which uniformly are 

 destructive of animal life, are very limited indeed ; 

 though the human subject appears to be suscep- 

 tible of the operation of an extensive range of 

 substances, from which most of the brute species 

 are more or less exempt. 



Having submitted these general observations 

 on the comparative effect of poison upon the 

 animal frame, when received into the stomach, 

 we shall be the better prepared to treat upon 

 particular poisons, commencing with animal sub- 

 stances; of which the Lytta Vesicatoria, cantharis, 

 or, in more familiar language, the Spanish fly, 

 shall be the first for consideration. 



This animal is a native of the southern parts 

 of Europe, including Spain, Italy, France, and 

 southern Germany. The largest proportion is 

 brought from Italy; but those of the best quality 

 are to be found in Spain. 



These flies are proportionally long, and exter- 

 nally present to the eye a beautiful covering 

 of mixed green and shining gold, which in a 

 Mediterranean sun has a splendid effect, not a 



