84 : The West American Scientist. 
ON THE MEDICAL) PROPER TIES OF Sova eae 
PORNLIA PLAN TS. 
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.—EpITor.] 
The latter name has been applied also to the Chelidonium 
majus, Linné, and the Euphorbia maculata, Linné, 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 OSs 72S 
CALIFORNIA.—I1. 
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 
