156 Remarks on the Flora Scotica (^Dr Hooker. 
unless in cases where it is of importance to procure a blister in the most expedi- 
tious manner. 
R. sceleratus^ Is also U very powerful epispastic, being rather more violent in 
its action than R. f. But the blistered surface is difficult to heal, passing into an 
irritable ulcer ; and on this account the plant cannot be used with safety. Both 
species lose their acrimony by drying ; hence in the form of powder they would 
be quite useless. They might, however, probably be preserved in the form of 
liniment or tincture. 
Our few Imperfect remarks upon the work of Dr Hooker are 
now concluded. If the Flora Scotica is not precisely such as all 
might have wished, it is yet what few botanists of our country 
could have accomplished ; and while it will remain a monument 
of great talent and indefatigable industry, it will yet, by its de- 
ficiencies, leave room for some botanist of enterprise to bestow 
his labour on a production better adapted to the prevalence of 
an improved taste among naturalists, which leads them to con- 
sider the mere description of the plants of a country as scarcely 
sufficient to gratify curiosity. For something of this kind we 
may confidently look to our distinguished author ; and botanists 
of less eminence will wait v/ith anxiety the appearance of a work 
which cannot fail to add to the already splendid reputation of 
Dr Hooker. 
These remarks on the Flora Scotica, it may be mentioned, are 
merely introductory to some views on the mode of constructing 
a Flora, which are intended as the subject of a future commu- 
nication. 
Art. XXVII . — Account of' the Thermal Springs of Yom-MacTc. 
By John Livingstone, Esq. Surgeon to the British Factory, 
China. Communicated by the Author. 
.A. BOUT two years ago, I was informed that some interesting 
hot-springs existed north-west of Macao, about fifteen miles dis- 
tant, and at the same time specimens of the different wells were 
given to me, for the purpose of analysis, in order that I might 
be able to ascertain the probable virtues of the water as a medi- 
cine. The temperature had only been tried by the rude expe- 
