84 The West American Scientist. 



ON THE MEDICAL PROPERTIES OF SOME CALL 

 FORNIA PLANTS. 



Editor of the West American Scientist: — We beg to ac- 

 knowledge receipt of your favor, and in reply thereto, we beg to 

 state as follows: Conchalagua or canchalagua is, as you mention, 

 the Erythraea venusta, Gray, but more popularly known as 

 California Centaury, Californian Pink, etc 



Medicinally it posesses valuable antiseptic and febrifuge prop- 

 erties and is in high repute as a bitter tonic and stomachic, but 

 we see no reason for considering it to be the "August Flower" 

 so extensively advertised. [We have been informed that such was 

 the case — Editor.] 



In regard to the other plant mentioned by you, Golondrina, we 

 find that several species of Euphorbia, mostly the E. albomar- 

 -ginata, Torr. and Gray, and the E. prostata, Ait., have acquired 

 a reputation as antidotes for Snake poisoning, under the names 

 of "Golondrina" and "Gollindrinera " [E. polycarpa, Benth. 

 is thecommon Golodrina of the Mexicans of Southern and Lower 

 California. — Editor.] 



The latter name has been applied also to the Chelidonium 

 majus, Linne, and the Euphorbia maculata, Linne, is known in 

 some districts as Golondrina de Filipinas, or Gatas-Gatas de 

 Filipinas. In the case of these last two plants however, we find 

 no record of their having been employed as snake-bite remedies. 



Larrea Mexicana, Moricand, is popularly known as the 

 creosote-bush or stinkweed, and is credited with being possessed 

 of valuable properties for the treatment of rheumatism and 

 syphilitic diseases. Trusting that the above will be of interest, 

 we are, very truly yours, Parke, Davis & Company. 



SOME NOTES ON THE TERTIARY FOSSILS OF 

 CALIFORNIA . —II 



THE SAN DIEGO WELL. 



In the early days of the present city of San Diego, California, 

 a well was sunk to a depth of 160 feet, at the corner of Ash and 

 Eleventh Streets, which for a time formed the source of the water- 

 supply of the then small town. The depth reached was not far 

 from the present sea-level, and it may be well to add that the well 

 is situated at the mouth of one of the small canyons, opening out 

 upon the lower mesa, upon which is built the business portion of 

 our city of to-day. 



Mr. Henry Hemphill, the indefatigable student and collector of 

 our west coast mollusca, was then, as now, a resident of San 

 Diego, and present to examine the debris as it was brought up 

 from the well. At the depth of about ninety feet a stratum of 



