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Uvular ia grandijiora, 



Art, VI, On the Uvularia grandijiora, as a remedy for the lite 

 of the Rattlesnake. By James G. Tracy. 



It has been long known that the Indians made use of a vegeta- 

 ble remedy for the bite of the rattlesnake, but there appears to be 

 much uncertainty respecting the plant resorted to for this purpose, 

 I believe no description has yet been published by which it can be 

 distinguished. 



The Commissioners for settling the boundary line between the 

 United States and the British Possessions were engaged in Au- 

 gust, 1820, in the survey of the Islands near the head of Lake 

 Brie. Among their attendants, was a hunter, named Hank John- 

 son. This person is a white, who while a child, was captured, 

 during the revolutionary war, by the Seneca Indians, in the west 

 ern part of Pennsylvania. He has ever since remained among 

 them ; been adopted as one of the nation, and to which indeed his 

 habits, dress and appearance conform, and he is now one of the 

 chiefs of that part of the Senecas who reside on the Cattaraugus 

 Creek. In the late war, he attached himself to the forces under 

 the command of General Porter, on the Niagara frontier, and par- 

 ticularly distinguished himself at the battle of Chippewa and at the 

 sortie from Fort Erie, by his strength, courage and fidelity, and in 

 the former action, probably saved the life of Major Frazer, who 

 being wounded, was carried by him on his back to a place of safe- 

 ty- 



At the period abovementioned, one of the men in the employ of 

 the commissioners was bitten by a rattlesnake, and Hank was ap- 

 plied to for assistance. He immediately collected some plants, 

 and gave to his patient a decoction of the roots and leaves ; and 

 after chewing, they were also bound upon the wound. No other 

 remedy was administered, and the man recovered. 



Soon after this a dog, belonging to one of the party, was bitten 

 severely by a rattlesnake in the head and tongue. Hank was ab- 

 sent at the time, and before his return, some hours after, the ani. 

 mal was excessively swollen, and apparently near dying. The 

 same remedy was then applied, by pouring a decoction of the plant 

 down his throat, and binding the roots and leaves on the wounds, 

 and the dog very rapidly recovered. 



On hearing these circumstances related by General Porter, W, 

 A. Bird, Esq. and Major Frazer, (all engaged on the commission) 



