529 



the toxiques of the New World, when, by more 

 frequent communications, the curare de bejuco, 

 the curare de raiz, and the various poisons of 

 the Amazon, Guallaga, and Brazil, can be pro- 

 cured, without being confounded together, from 

 the places where they are prepared. Chemists 

 having discovered the pure hydrocyanic acid % 

 and so many new substances eminently dele- 

 terious, the introduction of poisons prepared by 

 savage nations will be less feared in Europe; 

 we cannot however appeal too strongly to the 

 vigilance of those, who in the midst of very 

 populous cities (the centres of civilization, mi- 

 sery, and depravity) preserve such noxious sub- 

 stances. Our botanical knowledge of the plants 

 employed in making poison can be but very 

 slowly acquired. Most of the Indians, who 

 addict themselves to the fabrication of poisoned 

 arrows, are totally ignorant of the nature of 

 the venomous substances, which they receive 

 from other people. A mysterious veil every 

 where covers the history of toxiques and of 

 antidotes. Their preparation among the sa~ 



« M. Gay-Lussac observes, that this acid, for the fine 

 discovery of which we are indebted to him, cannot become 

 very dangerous to society, because it's smell betrays it's 

 presence, and because the facility with which it is decom- 

 posed makes it difficult to preserve. 



VOL. v. 2m 



