[ 3 
XV. An Account of the poifonous Root lately 
found mixed among the Gentian ; by the fame . 
Head March i;. r | *^HE following Account is the bed 
* 747 ' JL ^ have rece i v< i the poifonous 
EfFeds of a noxious Root, lately found in a Parcel 
of Gentian, and exhibited for Ufe to feveral Perfons 
inflead of it. And as it is attended with fuch dan- 
gerous Confequences, I thought even an impeded 
Relation of Fads had better be given immediately, 
than to exped more Circumftances, and wait fo long 
for them, till greater Mifchiefs might happen, by 
the Inattention of fuch as are conftantly adminiftring 
Medicines. The following Account was lent by a 
Gentleman of Hambleden Parifh, Buckinghamflire •; 
and is found to aerce in general with forne other 
fatal Inftances that have happen’d ftnee in London . 
Mary Burgefs , aged 60 Years, about y o’Clock 
in the Morning, drank of an Infufion ot only one 
Peny worth (without other Ingredients) of fuppofed 
Gentian-Root, in half a Pint of white Wine: It is 
uncertain what precifc Quantity Hie took ; but in 
two Hours afterwards (he taltcr’d in her Speech, had 
Twitchings and Convulfions of her Hands lb far, 
that the ignorant By-.ilanders alleg’d the poor Wo- 
man was drunk 5 and fo left her a bed till 12 o’ 
Clock, to deep it out. On their Return however 
{he appear’d much worfc, was fpeechlefs, and re- 
main’d fo 3 whole Days, and did not know any 
body all that time. In her Hinds a Purging came 
on, and at laft carried her off. 
Katharine 
