634 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE, 



which will kill sheep in a very short time after eating the leaves 

 of it. A sweet juice exudes from the flowers, which if swallowed 

 by man will bring on a species of delirium tremens of a formida- 

 ble nature. The odor of the vanilla absolutely intoxicates the 

 person who gathers it. The perfumes of the violet, the rose and 

 many other flowers act as a narcotic poison on many persons. 

 The vapors arising from saffron have been known to produce 

 apoplexy, and even immediate death. 



The physiologist finds these profound studies highly interest- 

 ing, because they are so mysterious. Our knowledge at present 

 does not enable us to explain by what extraordinary action hemp 

 produces catalepsy, the thorn-apple dreams, the fungus night- 

 mares, the deadly night-shade melancholy. Chemistry will even- 

 tually explain all. 



Still we know that man's wants have progressed until there 

 now exists in the whole human family a universal desire for 

 indulgences of a narcotic nature. In all countries this craving 

 is modified by race and climate. Yet all men are so feeble by 

 nature that a few drops of laudanum will prostrate them, a few 

 puffs at a cigar will soothe them, a small portion of hemp will 

 stimulate their mental faculties, and a minute quantity of opium 

 will lessen their susceptibility to external impressions. 



Mr. Churchill introduced the subject of the early reduction of 

 zinc in Europe, 100 years since, as instancing several important 

 principles, viz. : Melting with a blast in a reverberatory ; sepa- 

 rating the metal from the oxide, in cooling; producing the 

 requisite amount of cold by evaporating water on the surface of 

 the flue. The description given by Dr. Black suggested that the 

 operation of fusion was conducted under pressure, but this was 

 not certain. 



The subject of discussion next week will be "Iron-cased ships." 



American Institute, Polytechnic Association, 

 March 28, 1861. 

 Professor Mason in the chair. 



Professor Mason, in opening the meeting, said : While you were 

 discussing the effects of alcohol on the human body, at the last 

 meeting, I was suffering rather severely under the influence of a 

 certain amount of alcohol in the body of a hackdriver, in the 

 streets of Poughkeepsie, who was impelled to drive his coach 



