508 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. [1835. 



patient with face very pale but resting quietly, free from nausea or 

 pain ; there was no inclination to sleep, the pupils were about normal 

 and the respiration natural ; the pulse was very high and seemed to be 

 the only serious symptom. Entire recovery followed in a few hours. 



^Jsculus flava, Ait., .and var. purpurascens, Gray. (Sweet Buckeye.) 



Arborescent shrubs, seen on the Comal near New Braunfels, not ex- 

 tending south or west of that point. 



Acer grandidentatum, Nutt. (Small-leaved Maple.) 



Small or medium-sized tree, seen in the canons of the Guadalupe, 

 Organ and Chisos Mountains, the only maple of Western Texas. Wood 

 hard, close-drained, and probably susceptible of a line polish. 



Negundo aceroides, Mcench. (Box-Elder; Ash-leaved Maple.) 



Medium-sized tree on the San Antonio, Medina and other streams 

 east of the Pecos. The abundant sap of this tree contains a large pro- 

 portion of sugar, together with mucilaginous and demulcent principles, 

 which make it a very pleasant beverage. It is obtained in the early 

 spring by driving a tube, or else, cutting out a pocket, into the lower 

 part of the trunk. 



Sapindus marginatus, Willd. (Soap-berry.) 



Tree often 30 feet or more high, with straight stem seldom a foot 

 thick, common along creeks throughout Western Texas. As a green 

 and thrifty shrub, in a dry and parched district, it is often an indi- 

 cator of water on or near the surface. 



Wood sulphur-yellow, hard, close-grained, resinous and brittle, sus- 

 ceptible of a very fine polish ; makes excellent fuel. 



The whitish berries, the size of small marbles, have a translucid pulp 

 neutral to litmus paper, rich in mucilage and a detergent principle. A 

 few of them rubbed between the hands will clean them, with hardly 

 any lather, as well as soap. From their neutral reaction they might 

 be found useful in the washing of delicate fabrics. 



RHAMNACEiE. 

 Rhamims Caroliniarrus, Walt. (Alder-Buckthorn.) 



Shrub or very small tree on the banks of streams; San Antonio 

 westward to the Pecos ; nowhere common. 



Rhamnus Purshiana, DC. 



Stout shrub in the Guadalupe and (what seems nearest to it) in the 

 Chisos Mountains. 



Zizyphus obtusifolius, Gray. (Lote-bush; Texas Buckthorn.) 



Next to Mezquit, the most widespread and abundant shrub in Western 

 and Southern Texas, on gravelly mesas, slopes and bluffs. Of quick 

 growth and very hardy, with diffuse and strongly-armed branches, it 

 makes excellent hedges in dry pastures. The large, round, black ber- 

 ries are eaten by Mexicans although nearly tasteless. 



