142 



Scientific Intelligence, [no, 5. new series, 



There can be little doubt that, whether febrifuge or not, theThevetia is 

 possessed of very active properties. The symptoms, at first sight, seem to 

 be those of a narcotico-irritant, the irritant action predominating ; but, 

 from Dr. Balfour's description, I am inclined to doubt their being narcotic 

 in the true sense, the somnolence, etc.. being more like that of exhaustion 

 from a violent acrid ; the peculiar vomiting was perhaps an action of the 

 stomach itself, unaided by the abdominal muscles and diaphragm. We 

 might well expect the plant to be possessed of dangerous qualities of some 

 sort, considering its affinity with the very acrid Cerbera Manghas of the 

 East Indies, and the still more deadly C. Tanghin, the ordeal poison of 

 Madagascar, of which, if we are to believe it, < a kernel not larger than an 

 almond is sufficient to destroy twenty people.' " 



[This notice, contains an important addition to our knowledge of an indigenous 

 Medical plant, the bark of which is a reputed febrifuge, but the seeds are thus 

 proved to be a Narcotico-acrid poison.]— Ed. M. J. 



Coal in Scinde. — It gives us much pleasure to learn that the coal 

 diggings near Kotree is daily progressing favorably ; up to the 

 6th instant, Mr. Inman, with his staff, had completed exactly 100 

 feet in the Great Experimental Shaft, and passed through a three 

 feet seam of beautiful coal, full of bitumen and gaseous principle ; 

 the coal is so good, that it works with great advantage in the 

 smithy, and has the peculiar property of rendering the hard harsh 

 brittle English iron, soft and malleable as silver. Colonel Scott and 

 Captain DeLisle both visited the place, and were highly pleased at 

 the coal prospects of Sind. The sinking is now carried on through 

 a hard ferruginous white sandstone not perfectly formed. Strange 

 to say, not one drop of water had touched the shaft at this depth. 

 — Sindian, Jan. 13, 1858. 



Death of Mr. Pur die. On October 10, at Trinidad, William 

 Purdie Esq., for many years Government Botanist of this Colony. 

 The deceased was widely known for his exertions in his peculiar 

 province, in making which he had visited nearly every portion of 

 the Island, and carried out long investigations with no small degree 

 of endurance. 



Governor Keate has selecteid Dr. Kruger, a gentleman long re- 

 sident on the Island, of considerable scientific attainments and well 

 acquainted with Tropical Botany. 



