87 



the Indians, who heal with its juice wounds inflicted by poi- 

 sonous arrows) was formerly thought a native only of South 

 America. But it is now discovered in the West-Indies and 

 I believe in Georgia. It is highly valued as an antidote to 

 animal poison. The bite of the Scolopcndra or Centum Pes, 

 which is almost as venomous as the sting of a scorpion, 

 has often been cured by the application of the Maranta, 

 which flourishes most where these noxious insects abound. 

 It also effectually counteracts the fatal effects of the deadly 

 nightshade (Atropa Belladona) which is perhaps the most 

 powerful of the vegetable venoms. Six slaves in the 

 West Indies swallowed some spirits from a bottle which had 

 been stopped with the leaves of the deadly nightshade. — 

 Four of them died shortly after, by the effects of the poison. 

 The remaining two were saved by applying liberally the 

 juice of the Maranta Arundinacea. The efficacy of this 

 plant in removing the baneful consequences of the animal 

 and vegetable poison, seems to indicate that the malignan- 

 cy of mineral poison might also be opposed by its adminis- 

 tration. The experiment is certainly worth a trial. The 

 juice of the young plant is the antidote. The ferenaceous 

 qualities of the arrow root when mature, are sufficiently 

 known. 



The bark of the White Walnut, or Butternut, has been 

 used for the cure of bites from venomous serpents ;* and 

 an extract from it, made by simple boiling, is known to be 

 among the best cathartic medicines. The Scutellaria, or 

 Skull Cap, has lately obtained much reputation as a remedy, 

 or preventure, of cannine madness. The authority on which 

 many of the cures are believed to be real, cannot be ques- 

 tioned ; and the frequent occurrence of the hydrophobia, 

 during the summer months, entitle such a specific to much 

 attention — The Sutellaria grows plentifully in this state, and 

 it flowers in July and August. / 



The Seneka snake root (Polygala Senega) is found in the 



* Barton's Ccllec. vol. 2, p. 23. 



