CANNABIS SATIVA. Our own hemp, and the oriental called bang, are highly narcotic. The smoke, frequently used in Egypt and the cast, is said to be more power ful than tobacco. It appears that the ancients had a practice of intoxicating themselves with some such plants, by sitting round smoking fires made of them.
Many of the Fungi are known to be poisonous, but the species are not at ail determined. Their actions also dif fer ; some being narcotic, and others acrid. They are all held in great fear in this country ; but many species are eaten in France and Italy that are rejected by us. The only ones in use with us are the Agaricus camficstri•, and orea des, the deliciosus, more rarely, and the truffle and morel. The Russians eat the whole race, using the poisonous ones as means of intoxication. It appears, however, that these are used after a species of fermentation, so that their noxious effects are probably diminished.
The Agaricus Pilzeralus and muscarius are the two which seem most acrid among our species. The narcotic ones
have not been ascertained ; though, as death from their use is not an uncommon occurrence, it is probable that many different species possess this property.
We shall here conclude this list of the vegetable poisons. But we have yet to remark on these and the animal ones, that they appear to be all destructive when brought into the circulation even by punctures. Hence the practice of poisoning arrows. Savage nations are each attached to particular substances for this purpose, but their numbers are probably far greater than is suspected. The Euphor bias are amongst those used.. We believe that all the ac tive, acrid, and narcotic plants are equally poisonous in this way. As to animal poisons, the deadly effects of pu trid animal matter introduced, even slightly, during dis sections, are but too well °known. These remain active even when dry, and may be effectually used for poisoning arrows.