234 ON ANIMAL AND 



alternative petiolated leaves divided into five parts, 

 each portion being cut into linear segments; to 

 the leaves are attached terminal branches of irre- 

 gular blue flowers with five petals, many stamina, 

 and three pistils, succeeded by three capsules 

 containing seed. When the plant is first gathered, 

 it has a strong smell, but no peculiar taste. Each 

 part of it, but especially the roots, is one of the 

 most virulent of the vegetable poisons. Too large 

 a dose occasions a very painful sensation in the 

 tongue and jaws, with difficulty in swallowing, vio- 

 lent heat in the throat, pain in the stomach, most 

 active vomiting, and cholera, giddiness, fainting- 

 fits, cold sweats, convulsions, and death. The 

 juice of the plant was formerly used by savage 

 nations for the purpose of poisoning their arrows. 



The treatment consists of actively clearing the 

 prim a via3, plentiful dilution with milk and other 

 demulcent fluids, a large proportion of the whites 

 of eggs beat up and taken frequently, a free use 

 of a very strong infusion of coffee, and if pain 

 and tension of the abdomen supervene, the appli- 

 cation of twelve or fifteen leeches to the part 

 affected, followed by fomentations and saline 

 diaphoretic medicines ; or if great debility and 

 nervous depression ensue, volatile alkali in large 

 doses, ether, wine, and other cordials. 



The seed of the berries of the Strychnos, more 

 commonly known by the name of Nux Vomica* 

 which is brought from the East Indies, is a very 

 active poison, and particularly so to dogs and 



