THE MEANS OF SELF-PROTECTION POSSESSED BY PLANTS, 2387 
cavallo, or ammazza l’asino, and remarks that this accounts for the 
dread of its presence shown by the ass of Lucian and Apuleius. 
Both plants are poisonous. Our Indian oleander contains two active 
principles, nertodorein and neriodorin, both powerful heart poisons; 
these exist in all parts of the plant, as has been frequently demon- 
strated by the poisoning of children who have eaten the leaves or 
flowers. 
The oily kernels of the marking nut and cashew nut are protected. 
by their pericarps, full of an acrid blistering fluid containing ana- 
cardic acid. 
We all know how nauseously bitter most of the wild Cucurbitacess 
aro in this country. Were it not so, their soft pulpy fruit would 
be exterminated by the snails and slugs, which abound at the time 
of year when most of them ripen. When, under cultivation, cucum- 
bers and melons have lost their bitter, purgative, and emetic prin- 
ciples, they require the constant watchfulness of the gardener for 
their protection. 
Bitterness or astringency in the bark of many trees doubtless 
saves them, to a great extent, from being injured by cattle. 
Some bulbs, such as onion and garlic, as well as some cruciferous 
plants, are obnoxious to animals, on account of the pungent oils 
which they develop.' No animal appears to relish mustard, but 
almost all the Cruciferae, as well as onions, garlic, &c., are eagerly 
sought after by man. The leaves of Anona squamosa, the custard 
apple, are not browsed upon by cattle, and when crushed they have 
an acrid and disagreeable, odour, so much so that the country, 
people use them instead of smelling salts asa remedy for the | 
vapours. The leaves, young fruit, and seeds are powerfully 
insecticide, and are in common use for washing the head when the 
population become too lively. 
Rue is protected by its nauseous volatile oil; terebinthinate exuda- 
tions and gum-resins make many trees and umbelliferous plants 
obnoxious to cattle. The mints, the balms, and basils, though 
their odour is pleasant to man, are not generally depastured by 
animals; even in Arabia, where pasture is scarce, the common 
wild basil or Calamintha (faranjmishk) is left untouched. 
Camphor appears to be particularly disagreeable to animals, and 
a numerous class of plants in India owe the safety of their starchy 
depots to this substance, or in some instances, to an acrid resin. [ 
allude to the Scitamines. In this class most of the Curcumas have 
33 e 
