quietly the remainder of the night. Mr. J. A. Waller observes "that a temporary madness seems uniformly the result of this poison." Vicat records a case of a man who drank a decoction of the fruit, and became melancholy, lost his voice, his pulse disappeared, and the limbs became paralyzed; after which madness came on. Another, after drinking milk boiled with the same fruit, experienced vertigoes, became insensible, talked in a raving manner, had at first a small weak pulse, which afterwards became hardly perceptible. His legs were paralyzed, and he ultimately became mad. The smell alone of this plant causes ebriety, and it has been used for the most dreadful purposes in eastern countries. Garcias tells us that thieves mix it in the food of those whom they intend to rob; and Acosta mentions that abandoned females frequently give it to their incautious gallants. In Java these unfortunate women take it themselves as a stimulus. Some of these women are so experienced in administering this medicine, and know how to temper it in such a manner, that its effects shall last for a certain time, or for as many hours as they please.

Indian princes have been known to make use of it to render their rivals stupid, and then to expose them to the people, to show how incapable they are to govern.

Waller observes, in his Domestic Herbal, that the fumes of this plant, received like those of tobacco, have, in no instance that he had heard of, been productive of any ill effects; whilst at the same time, he says he has often witnessed the most beneficial results from its use in this manner, in asthmas, and old inveterate coughs. Some persons smoke the Stramonium alone, others mix it with tobacco;" the best method, however, in my estimation," says Mr. Waller, "is a mixture of one third part of the stalks, fruit, leaves, and seeds of the Stramonium, properly dried, cut, and bruised, mixed with two thirds of herb tobacco."

An ointment, prepared from the leaves of the Stramonium, gives ease in external inflammations and hæmorrhoids.

This plant is unquestionably a native of America; Kalm says that in many parts of that extensive country it is one of the most troublesome weeds that grow about the villages, where the land is cultivated; and it has been frequently observed that in the earth brought with plants from various parts of the new world, the Thorn-apple often springs up. The earliest English writers on plants who have mentioned the Datura, call it Thornyapple of Peru. It appears to have travelled through the East Indies and Persia to Europe, as we find the seed was first brought to this country from

Constantinople, by Lord Edward Zouch, who gave it to Gerard, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. Gerard observes that he made great use of the plant in his profession as a surgeon, not only for burns and scalds, but also for "virulent and maligne vlcer, apostemes, and such like." This author tells us that he dispersed the seeds of this plant through this land. Thus we have a positive proof of the time of its introduction, and that it is not a native plant of this island, as it is frequently set down in many catalogues of British plants. It has, however, so far naturalized itself in our soil that it is frequently found in waste places and on dung heaps, and is often found a troublesome intruder on the parterre, for the seeds being dug into the earth, will remain for several years, and vegetate when again turned up to the air. When sown on a rich soil, the plants grow to a great size, which renders them unsuitable for the flower borders, but amongst flowering shrubs it has a good effect, both by its large foliage and its long tubular flowers, which appear from July to September. In the natural history of the Stramonium, this singular provision of nature is observed, that at night the leaves nearest the flowers rise up and enclose them, so as to form a shelter from the humidity of the air.

The generic name of Datura, by which this

plant is known throughout Europe, is the original name by which it was received from the Turks. It is called Thorn-apple from the nature of its fruit.

Nicolaus Monardes, a Spanish physician, tells us in his work published in 1564, that he received the first seeds of this plant from Peru, under the Indian name of Cachos, and that it came strongly recommended to him as a medicinal plant, which the Indians, as well as the Spaniards, in Peru, held in high estimation.

The Purple Thorn-apple, Datura Fastuosa, of which there is a variety with double flowers, is much more desirable for the garden than the common Stramonium. The flowers of this species are of a fine purple on their outside, and of a glossy white within. These have an agreeable odour for the moment, but if long smelt to it becomes less pleasing. This species is a native of the East Indies and Egypt, and was first cultivated in this country by Mr. Miller, in the year 1731.

MALLOW. Malva.

Natural Order Columniferæ.

Malvacea, Juss.

A

Genus of the Monadelphia Polyandria Class.

Who cut up Mallows by the bushes, and Juniper roots for their meat.

Job, xxx. 4.

FROM the above ejaculation of Job, we learn that the mallow afforded food in early times to those wandering tribes that have ever preferred to pitch their tent in the wilderness, and depend upon the spontaneous productions of the earth for their subsistence, rather than to dwell in settled habitations, where they would be expected to assist in the labour of multiplying the gifts of

nature.

The name of this plant is thought to be derived from the Hebrew, in which language it is called Malluach, from its saltness, Malach being the Hebrew word for salt. Gerard says, "I am persuaded that the Latin word Malva comes from the Chaldee name Malluach, the ch being left out for the good sound's sake." Some are of opinion that the Greeks called it Maλaxn, and the Latins