Of the many travellers who have visited the countries of North-America, there are very few, indeed, who have not recorded in their journals at least one or two fpecificks against the bites of ferpents. M. le Page du Pratz, who, in some respects, is a judicious writer, feriously informs us that the RATTLE-SNAKE "fhuns the habitations of "men, and by a fingular providence, wherever it retires to, there the herb which cures its bite, is likewife to be "found *." Had this gentleman observed that wherever the animal, of which we are fpeaking, retires, we find vegetables which the full credulity of the Americans has led them to imagine are antidotes to its bite, he would not have exposed himself to the imputation of credulity with those who are more intimately acquainted with the works of nature, or with the powers of medicines. But the truth is, that there is no branch of natural history in the investigation of which even men of science have more prominently discovered their ignorance and weakness than in that of the ferpents. Here, even a Linnæus, forgetting the cautious dignity which became the character of him who was destined to reform the science of nature, seriously relates those tales which ought to have been confined to the wigwaum of the favage, or to the cabin of the moft uninformed hunter. To this account of what I deem to be the most effectual means of preventing the deleterious confequences of the bite of the CROTALUS HORRIDUS, or RATTLE-ŠNAKE, I fhall fubjoin a catalogue of a number of vegetables which have been recommended for the fame purpose, either by the Indians, or by the white inhabitants of our continent. In enumerating these vegetables, I have thought it proper to give both the Linnæan, or claffical, and the English, or vulgar, names. Some of these reputed fpecificks are used internally, others are employed externally, whilft others, again, VOL. III. P * The History of Louisiana, &c. p. 269. English Translation. are are used both internally and externally. To fuch as are used internally I have prefixed this markt: to such as are applied externally, I have prefixed the mark*: those which are employed both internally and externally are designated by both these marks, whilft to thofe of which I have not learned, with certainty, the particular exhibition, I have prefixed no mark whatever. Sanguinaria canadenfis (* Puccoon, Blood-root, Turmerick), Hypoxis erecta (Erect-Hypoxis,Star of Bethlehem), Laurus Safjafras (* Saffafras), Polygala Senega (†* Seneca Snakeroot), Prenanthes alba (†White Ivy-leaf, Dr. Witt's Snakeroot), Hieracium venofum († Veiny-Hawk-weed), Cunila mariana († Dittany, Wild-Bafil), Collinfonia canadenfis († Horfe-weed, Knot-root), Hydrophyllum canadense († Scaly-root), Ribes nigrum († Black-Currant), Eryngium foetidum (Fetid-Eryngo), Arctium Lappa (* Burdock), Uvularia perfoliata (* Perfoliate-Uvularia), Aletris farinofa (Star-grafs, Star-root), Afarum-virginicum? (Heart Snake-roots), Marrubium vulgare (White-Horehound), Scorzonera bifpanica (Garden Vipers-grafs), Solidago (*† Golden-rod. Different fpecies are used.), Ariftolochia Serpentaria (Virginian Snake-root), Iuglans oblonga (* WhiteWalnut, Butter-nut), Cynogloffum virginicum († Virginian Hounds-tongue), Convolvulus-arvenfis? (* LeafBindweed) Actxa racemosa (†American Bane-berry, Black Snake-root, Rattle-weed), Sanicula canadenfis († Canadian Sanicle), Veratrum luteum (Rattle-Snake-root), Erigeron-philadelphicum? (†* Robin's Plantain) Liriodendron Tulipifera († Tulip-tree, Poplar §), Crocus fativus + Common Among the Cheerake, and probably among other American tribes, the inner bark of this tree, after being bruifed, is infufed in water, and the infufion given to horses which have been bitten by the RATTLE-SNAKE. It is not improbable that this medicine may fometimes be of service in these cafes, as it is certain that the bark of the American Liriodendron poffeffes very active powers, as a ftimulant and fudorifick. I have never heard that this bark has been cmployed for the bite of the RATTLE-SNAKE in man. († Common-Saffron), Fraxinus (+ White-Afb) Chryfanthemum? (St. Anthony's cross) Convallaria († Solomon's feal. Different species are used.), Ulmus-Americana? (*+? American Elm) Ofmunda virginiana (Virginian Ofmunda, Fern-Rattle-Snake-root), Juffiæa?-(+ Wood-Plantain, Rattle-Snake-Plantain) Hieracium Kalmii *Rattle-Snake-Plantain, Poor-Robin's Plantain). MAGNETIC No. XII. OBSERVATIONS, Made at the University of Cambridge (Maffachusetts) in the year 1783, BY DR. S. WILLIAM S. The above Obfervations were made with an excellent Variation Inftrument, with a twelve 1651 6.39 No. XIII. Accurate determination of the right afcenfion and declination of B Bootes, and the Pole Star in a Letter from MR. ANDREW ELLICOTT to MR. R. PATTERSON. Dear Sir, Read Nov. HEREWITH fend you 7th, 1788. I October 17th, 1788. the right afcenfions and declinations of Bootes, and the Pole Star. The Declination of & Bootes was determined by comparing its zenith diftance, with the zenith diftances of Lyræ, Capella, a Cygni, v Andromeda, s Medufæ, and Cygni, whofe declinations have been accurately determined by the European aftronomers. The zenith distances, were taken by the fector which was used on the Northern boundary of this ftate, and was made by our own countryman Mr. Rittenhouse, and graduated by a method of his own; to fay more in its favour, would be fuperfluous. The right afcenfion was determined by comparing its paffage over the meridian, with the most convenient of thofe contained in the roth table, annexed to the first Volume, of the Rev. Doct. Mafkelyne's aftronomical obfervations. This ftar will be found very useful, in determining latitudes within the Northern, and Southern limits of the United States. The right afcenfion and declination of the Pole ftar, I. have deduced from the obfervations of the Rev. Doctor Mafkelyne. This ftar is of fuch confequence in tracing a meridian, that it is a wonder fo little attention has been paid to it by the European aftronomers: it is however liable to one inconvenience, on account of the change in its annual variation in right afcenfion; but this may be nearly corrected for many years, by using an arithmetical progreffion, an example of which will be found at the end of the tables of aberration and nutation. In In applying the corrections contained in the tables of aberration and nutation, it is only only necceffary to observe this rule.. When the Sun's place or place of the Moon's afcending node is on the left fide of the firft column,use the sign on the left fide of the column required, and vice versa. The Right Afcenfion and Declination of B Bootes to the beginning of 1789. Right Afcenfion, 7 13 30 3,5 Aberration in } Ann. Var. Nutation in { Nutation in " ΤΟ 20. 61 12. 34 3. 93 10. 17 I. 59 1. о VII. 24. 48 7. 61 -0.79+ 4. 81 3. 09 I. 71 |