C 1 5° ] 
But it has been obferved, that thofe, who have drank 
of this fpirit, have fcarce efcaped with life, and have 
complained violently of an oppreflion about the prae- 
cordia a long time after. 
From the mealy fubftance, which exudes from 
tiie ftalks of this plant, a fpirit may be prepared j 
provided that this fubflance is diluted in a proper 
quantity of water, and made to ferment : but this is in 
much lefs quantity than from the ftalks themfelves. 
The fermented liquor likewife they ufe as wine, and 
frequently intoxicate themfelves therewith. By what 
accident it was difcovered, that this plant would by 
diftillation furnifh an inflammable fpirit, and for 
many particulars relating thereto, I muft refer you 
to the work itfelf ; and our author informs us, that 
the feveral ufes of this plant were collected with great 
labour by M. Krafkeninikoff, one of their company, 
from the Coflacks of Kamtfchatka. 
Dodonaeus * relates, that the inhabitants of Poland 
and Lithuania make themfelves a kind of liquor, 
which the poor people ufe as beer, from the fer- 
mented leaves and feeds of the Sphondylium. This 
adds fomewhat to the credibility of the former rela- 
tion. 
When Steller, whom our author always mentions 
with great efleem, was at Tobolfki in the year 1738, 
he was informed, that two years before they were 
grievoufly afflidted there with peftilential carbuncles, 
which were of fo contagious a nature, as to feize 
thofe, who approached the perfon affedted. The 
difeafe firlt began in horfes and oxen, and afterwards 
feized 
* Dodon. Stirp. Hiftor. p. 304. 
