the seeds of a moderate-sized tree, *Strychnos Nux-Vomica*, Linn. (Nat. Ord. Loganiaceae, Div. Strychnae), a native of the coast of Coromandel. The nux vomica, or poison-nut, has been known for a long time, and is supposed to have been made known to Europe by the Arabian physicians; but one or two other seeds have evi- dently been confounded with it. The pulpy fruit which encloses the seed is about the size of an orange, with a thin brittle shell, of a brilliant orange colour; and, from the fact that the pulp is eaten by birds, would seem to be innocuous. The fruit contains many seeds, imbedded in a white gelatinous pulp. These seeds are about three-fourths of an inch in diameter, quite circular, slightly convex on one side, and depressed on the other; of a peculiar silky appearance, and of a light-draub colour, not unlike silk-covered buttons. They are very hard and horny, and consist chiefly of dark greenish-gray albumen, in which their intensely poisonous quality resides. The deadly powers of this seed are due to the presence of the alkaloid called strychnia or strychnine, a salt consisting of $\text{C}_{44}\text{H}_{24}\text{N}_{2}\text{O}_{7}$; but it contains another poisonous alkaloid called brucine, of nearly similar composition—$\text{C}_{44}\text{H}_{25}\text{N}_{3}\text{O}_{7}$. It was discovered in 1818 by Pelletier and Caventou, and it was afterwards proved by M. Magendie and by Dr Fouquier that the salt possessed a remarkable specific action upon the spinal marrow without particularly affecting the brain. It has consequently been found very serviceable in certain spinal diseases, but its administration requires excessive care. Almost every part of the tree, except the pulp of the fruit, partakes of the intense bitter of the seed. The poisonous bark introduced into Europe as angostura bark did not come from South America, but from India, and proves to be that of the *S. nux-vomica*. The wood is very hard, and is used as a useful kind of timber. The imports of nux vomica were only 550 lb. in 1840; but in 1857 it was over 1000 bags, or about 250 cwt. The use to which this large quantity of so powerful a poison is applied is by no means clear. Much is employed for the destruction of rats and other noxious animals, but not sufficient to account for so great an increase. It is free of duty, and is almost always imported from Bombay in small bags of about 28 lb. each, and is worth from 6s. to 8s. per cwt.