CHORETIS GLAUCA. 



103 



While, however, the Amaryllidacece are conspicuous for their beauty, they 

 are also remarkable for the poisonous properties contained in many of them, 

 properties by no means usual in monocotyledonous orders, which, on the contrary, 

 are usually distinguished not only by the absence of all deleterious qualities, but 

 by the abundance of nutritious aliment which they furnish for the use of man. 



The different species of Amaryllis are considered to be more or less poisonous, 

 but Hemanthus toxicarius is the plant in which a poisonous principle is found to 

 be most powerfully developed. With the viscid juice of this plant (and probably 

 some neighbouring species) the Hottentots are said to poison their arrows. 

 Weapons wetted with the juice of the bulb are said to convey certain death by 

 the slightest wound ; though the flesh of animals thus slain is not affected, but 

 is eaten by the natives. Nerine samiensis, the Guernsey lily, which became 

 naturalized in the islands of Jersey and Guernsey many years ago, by the wreck 

 of a vessel from the Cape of Good Hope, is also reputed to be poisonous. Ama- 

 ryllis ornata is considered to be astringent. 



That many species of Narcissus contain an emetic property, is a fact which 

 was well known to the ancients : this property is so predominant in the bulbs of 

 some species, that they were called by the older herbalists bulbi vomitarii, Nar- 

 cissus poeticus, N. Jonquilla, N~. odorus, and N. Tazetta, are well-known examples ; 

 and our wild daffodil Narcissus pseudo -narcissus, is known to have similar proper- 

 ties ; it is administered on the continent in doses of five or ten grains to produce 

 nausea, and as an emetic in doses of thirty grains. The active principle of these 

 plants is considered by De Candolle to be analogous to that of the squill. The 

 extract is stated by Burnett to be the best form in which the active principle of 

 the Narcissi can be exhibited medicinally. Two or three drachms of such a 

 preparation, it is said, will destroy life in the course of a few hours ; while in 

 doses of a few grains it may be given with advantage. In doses of two or three 

 grains, it is regarded by some persons as almost a specific in whooping cough, 

 while by others it is considered an uncertain remedy : — Laennec, for instance, 

 in speaking of its effects in this disease, says, " I have used this extract much, 

 and have occasionally seen it effect surprisingly rapid cures, namely, in five or 

 six days ; but this result is rare, and as a general remedy I find it much less 

 efficacious than Belladonna." 



Some of the other genera are also used medicinally, as oporanthus luteus> 

 which is laxative ; Alstrdmeria salsilla, which is diaphoretic and diuretic ; whilst 

 some are cultivated as esculent vegetables. Alstrdmeria salsilla, the plant last 

 mentioned, is cultivated in the West Indies and in America, especially in Peru, 

 for the sake of its roots, which are eaten in those countries as the tubers of the 

 common potato are in Europe. From the succulent roots of Alstrdmeria pallida 

 a preparation is obtained in Chili resembling arrow-root. The wild Agave of 

 Mexico yields, when tapped, a copious juice, which is fermented into a wine 

 called Pulque, from which, according to Dr. Lindley, a spirit known under the 



