7^ September 1748. 



feeling its bad efFeds ; for the face, the 

 hands, and frequently the whole body fwells 

 exceffively, and is afFeded with a very accute 

 pain. Sometimes bladders or blifters arife 

 in great plenty, and make the fick perfon 

 look as if he was infedted by a leprofy. In 

 fome people the external thin fkin,or cuticle^ 

 peels of in a few days, as is the cafe when 

 a perfon has fcalded or burnt any part of 

 his body. Nay, the nature of fome perfons 

 will not even allow them to approach the 

 place where the tree grows, or to expofe 

 themfelves to the wind, when it carries the 

 effluvia or exhalations of this tree with it, 

 without letting them feel the inconvenience 

 of the fwelling, which I have juft now 

 defcribed. Their eyes are fometimes fhut 

 up for one, or two and more days together 

 by the iwelling. I know two brothers, 

 one of whom could without danger handle 

 this tree in what manner he pleafed, where- 

 as the other could not come near it with- 

 out fwelling. A perfon fometimes does not 

 know that he has touched this poifonous 

 plant, or that he has been near it, before 

 his face and hands fhews it by their fwel- 

 ling. I have known old people who were 

 more afraid of this tree than of a viper 5 

 and I was acquainted with a perfon who 

 merely by the noxious exhalations of it 



was 



