3)8 TRAVELS IN 
has down that no ill confequences follow. But 
natural hiftory is a vaft mine, which, in pro- 
portion as it is worked, offers new particulars 
and interefting difcoveries. Cantharides taken 
internallyin powder, orapplied externally to the 
{kin in plafters, are found to be a very adive fti- 
mulant poifon : who knows whether other in- 
fers may not be difcovered, as the ftudy of this 
branch of natural hiftory is purfued, which 
alfo poffefs this dangerous quality ? 
My father has affured me, that at Surinam 
there are two kinds of hairy caterpillars, a black 
and a white, which have it in a formidable de- 
gree. If they touch the ikin, either of aa 
Indian or an European^ a blifter is immediately 
formed, and as copious an efFufion of ferum 
enfues as on the application of cantharides. In 
h(s than four hours the evil increafes. Acute 
pains are felt, accompanied with cold fliiver- 
ipgs and fever ; and if the blood or humours 
of the unfortunate party be in a bad ftate, his 
wound becomes an ulcer, which requires the 
knife to prevent a gangrene, I have in my 
cabinet both thefe caterpillars, which are re- 
markable for their (Ize. 
In the country of the Nimiquas a truly ve- 
nomous 
