VEGETABLES. 



283 



ing symptoms, in many persons, and the death of 

 others who eat of them, during the latter end of the 

 winter of 1790-91. ...An account of the fact as re- 

 cord eid by the author, may be found in the J^emo York 

 Med, Repository^ vol. i. 



2. K. angustifolia, narrow leaved, or dwarf lau- 

 rel. 



It grows on sandy heaths, and dry poor soils. Bees 

 collect a deleterious honey from the flowers of both 

 species of this plant, which produces very disagree- 

 able symptoms in those who eat of it. 



An ingenious Experimental Inaugural Disserta- 

 tion was published in Philadelphia, in 1802, by Dr. 

 Thomas, upon the above species of kalmia ; from 

 which it appears, that the leaves of both abound 

 with resin, but that the last is the most active of the 

 two. From the same dissertation we find, that a 

 decoction of the k. latifolia, prepared by putting one 

 ounce of the leaves in eight ounces of water, and 

 boiling it down to four ounces, cured a diarrhoea of 

 eight weeks continuance. The dose at first was 

 thirty drops six times a day, but producing vertigo, 

 it was diminished to four times a day. The itch 

 was speedily cured by washing the parts with the 

 decoction. 



The scald head, tinea capitis^ was also cured by 

 anointing the head with an ointment made of the 

 leaves and hogs fat. Dr. Barton bears testimony of 

 the efficacy of this ointment in the tinea* See ' Col*> 

 lections for a Materia Medica.' 



Chionanthus^ snow-drop, or fringe-tree. 



A genus of plants comprising four species, of which 

 only one is a native of the United States. This 



