8 7 
the Indians, who heal with its juice wounds inflicted by poi¬ 
sonous arrows) was formerly thought a native only of South 
America. But it is now discovered in the West-Indies and 
I believe in Georgia. It is highly valued as an antidote to 
animal poison. The bite of the Scolopendra or Centum Pes, 
which is almost as venomous as the sting of a scorpion, 
has often been cured by the application of the Maranta, 
which flourishes most where these noxious insects abound. 
It also effectually counteracts the fatal effects of the deadly 
nightshade (Atropa Belladona) which is perhaps the most 
powerful of the vegetable venoms. Six slaves in the 
West Indies swallowed some spirits from a bottle which had 
been stopped with the leaves of the deadly nightshade.—- 
Four of them died shortly after, by the effects of the poison. 
The remaining two were saved by applying liberally the 
juice of the Maranta Arundinacea. The efficacy of this 
plant in' removing the baneful consequences of the animal 
and vegetable poison, seems to indicate that the malignan¬ 
cy of mineral poison might also be opposed by its adminis¬ 
tration. The experiment is certainly worth a trial. The 
juice of the young plant is the antidote. The ferenaceous 
qualities of the arrow root when mature, are sufficiently 
known. 
The bark of the White Walnut, or Butternut, has been 
used for the cure of bites from venomous serpents;* and 
an extract from it, made by simple boiling, is known to be 
among the best cathartic medicines. The Scutellaria, or 
Skull Cap, has lately obtained much reputation as a remedy, 
or preventure, of cannine madness. The authority on which 
many of the cures are believed to be real, cannot be ques¬ 
tioned ; and the frequent occurrence of the hydrophobia, 
during the summer months, entitle such a specific to much 
attention—The Sutellaria grows plentifully in this state, and 
it flowers in July and August. 
The Seneka snake root (Polygala Senega) is found in the 
* Barton’s Collec. vol, 2, p. 23. 
