Yucca Whipplei . 195 



the snake using the plant itself in case of its repenting of suicidal 

 intentions. But this is open to doubt and it may be presumed that 

 the snake resorted to the use of the plant for some reason unknown 

 to us. That it is an infallible cure ma}- also be doubted, notwith- 

 standing the numerous cases which have been described to me by 

 different and reliable observers where it proved efficacious in pre- 

 serving life. In Texas the plant is steeped in fresh milk and the tea 

 given internally in cases where children are bitten by the rattle- 

 snake. In Lower California the plant is first ^masticated and a por- 

 tion of the weed then applied to the scarified wound and a part 

 swallowed. In Mexico I am informed that among certain Indian 

 tribes the men carry- a little of this herb — dried — on their person 

 constantly and say that where it is promptly applied a snake bite 

 never proves fatal. 



All this cumulative evidence is not to be hastily discredited in a 

 matter of so great importance, for, while the mortality from this 

 cause in the United States is not great, yet in India and some por- 

 tions of tropical America, many thousands annually lose their lives 

 from venomous serpents. If this plant really possesses the qualities 

 ascribed to it its introduction in those countries afflicted in this 

 way would be of lasting benefit to the human race. 



It should be borne in mind that the milky juice of the golon- 

 drina is in itself poisonous, whether taken internally, or with many 

 individuals, applied externally to the skin. A case of poisoning by 

 this plant was lately brought to my attention. Several ladies and 

 children thoughtlessly ornamented their hats with the pretty clus- 

 ters of leaves and white flowers, getting the juice on to their hands 

 and faces. In two or three of these individuals the effect was 

 similar to a case of poisoning from the poison oak, while the others 

 were not affected in the least. I have frequently had the milky juice 

 on my hands, when collecting specimens for my herbarium, without 

 any inconvenient results. C. R. Orcutt. 



YUCCA WHIPPLEI. 

 (From lick's Magc&ine, xiv, 211.) 



The persistent reader of florists' catalogues will sometimes find 

 the name that heads this article at the tail end of the short list of 

 yuccas. It received its name from the zealous and talented Lieu- 

 tenant A. W. Whipple, who, in 1853-4, crossed the plains at the 

 head of an exploring expedition of the United States government. 



* In the early summer one may see the Indians of our San Ber- 

 nardino valley with bundles of some green vegetable substance 



