( HJ ) 
V. An account of the Toyfon Wood Tree in New- 
England. (By the Honourable Paul Dudley, 
£jq, F. 6\ Communicated by John Chain- 
berlain, Efq 5 
* ' " "W 
T HE Poyfon- Wood-Tree grows only in Swamps, 
or low wet Grounds, and is fomething like a 
linail Afh , but much more like a Sumach , and 
therefore is by fome called the Swamp Sumach , for 
the Twiggs, Leaves, and Shape are exadly like the 
Sumach , and it likewife bears a dry Berry. 
It never grows bigger than a Man’s Leg, nor taller 
than Alder, but fpreads much, and feveral together, 
efpecially about the Stump or Roots of one that is* 
cut down ; as it is of quick growth, fo it does not 
laft long j the infide of the Wood is yellow and very 
full of Juice, as glutinous as Honey or Turpentine * 
the Wood itfelf has a very flrong unfavory Smell] 
but the Juice (links as bad as Carrion. Having thus 
defcribed the Tree, we (hall now proceed to give an 
account of itsPoifonous Quality, 
1. And firft, it muft be obferved, that it poyfons 
two ways, either by touching or handling of it, or 
by the Smell ^ for the Scent of it, when cut down in 
the Woods, or on the Fire, has poifoned Perfons to 
a very great degree. One of my Neighbours was 
blind for above a Week together, with only hand- 
