LAUREL. 33 



known in France by the name of Lauricr- 

 amandier, Almond-laurel, because the leaves 

 give the flavour of bitter almonds : and it is 

 also called Laurier-au-lait, Milk-laurel, from 

 its being used to flavour milk. It was for- 

 merly much used in this country to give a 

 flavour to puddings and custards, &c. ; but 

 this practice is much less frequent since it has 

 been ascertained to be a deadly poison. We 

 should therefore caution all persons against 

 its use, and particularly cooks ; for in case of 

 accident, they would be tried for the murder 

 of the sufferer as much as if they had used 

 any other poisonous drug. Dr. Darwin says, 

 " The distilled water from laurel leaves is, 

 perhaps, the most sudden poison we are ac- 

 quainted with in this country. I have seen 

 about two spoonfuls of it destroy a large 

 pointer dog in less than ten minutes. In a 

 small dose it is said to promote intoxication. 

 On this account there is reason to believe it 

 acts in the same manner as opium and vinous 

 spirit ; but that the dose is not so well ascer- 

 tained." As our shrubbery is meant to amuse, 

 we forbear mentioning the dreadful conse- 

 quences that have ensued from the baneful 

 juice of this leaf ; but we feel it a duty to 

 caution those who may have been in the habit 

 of using it, particularly as custards and pud- 



VOL. II. n 



