its influence lasted, and even ulcers that had been healed for a number of years, were apt to break out afresh, and to spread with astonishing malignity. This, under bad treatment, when nature had cured the primary disorder, not unfrequently occasioned death.

The persons most subject to attack were those above the age of twenty, the young and healthy as well as the old and feeble, and more men than women were its victims.

Such are the outlines of a disease which seemed to confound the art of our physicians; which left them at a loss how to act, and in which experiment was to teach them. With regard to the mode of treatment, those who considered mercury as a universal medicine, administered it with a liberal hand to all who fell under their care; and, as might have been expected, found that nearly one half died. Those who were equally fond of venesection experienced a like dreadful result from their practice. On the contrary, when nothing was given but gentle sudorifics of eupatorium perfoliatum and other plants of similar virtues, there were but few, who, if careful to prevent a relapse, did not soon recover from the more violent symptoms, and then a tonic and restorative diet easily restored them their former health.

IX.

Information concerning the CANADA THISTLE, a Plant which exceedingly annoys the Agriculture of the Northern and Western Counties of New-York. In a Communication from SAMUEL L. MITCHILL, Member of the Legislative Assembly of New-York, &c. to Dr. DAVID HOSACK, Professor of Botany, &c.-Dated July 20, 1810.

On Monday, the 12th of February, the petition of the board of supervisors of the county of Jefferson was read in the assembly, praying that the legislature would adopt some mode of destroying a noxious weed, called the Canadian Thistle, which threatens to become a serious inconvenience to that part of the state. This was referred to a select committee, consisting of Messrs. Kent, Bronson, and Wheeler; and on the 2d of March, the Chairman reported their opinion that some legislative provision ought to be made to prevent the further spread of that plant, which is becoming very injurious to agriculture in those parts of the state where the petitioners reside. Leave was given to present a bill for that purpose; which was accordingly reported under the title of "an act to amend the act relative to the duties and privileges of towns." This bill enlarges the powers of the freeholders and inhabitants of towns, to make and enforce such regulations as they may think proper, for the extirpation and destruction of the Canada Thistle.

Some valuable facts concerning the introduction of this plant into New-York, and the progress made by it there,

are contained in the letter which Mr. Bulkley, member of the assembly from Madison County, received from Mr. Timothy Dewey, an actual and intelligent observer. That statement was made at my request, and very obligingly placed at my disposal. I now transmit it, together with another letter from the same gentleman to me, and a parcel of the plants themselves, for your consideration. I hope, with your aid, the botanical name and character of this vegetable intruder may be established. And I ask all the force you can bring into action, against a foe which threatens to dispossess man and beast from their respective occupancy of land.

SAMUEL L. MITCHILL.

SIR,

No. I.

Letter from Mr. Dewey to Mr. Bulkley, dated
Albany, April 2, 1810.

Agreeably to your request, I give you some of the leading traits in the character of the Canada Thistle.-It is found in the state of Vermont, on the east side of the Green Mountains, and in the middle and northern parts of the state of New-Hampshire. It grows most thriftily in loamy or sandy land; such as is covered with the sugar maple, basswood, elm, butternut, birch, beach and mountain ash. It is rarely found on a clay or marshy soil. It resembles in colour and its general features and properties, the large annual thistle, of this and the eastern states, except its not being an annual plant; the stalk be ing much smaller and growing much higher. It grows from three to six feet in height, and frequently so thick

that it is impossible for any animal to pass through the beds, or plats of it. It destroys all other vegetation, whenever the land is infested with it. I know of no vegetable that will thrive with it. It appears to be a certain poison to most plants. Potatoes may grow

on land infested with it if hoed five or six times in the season; and I think it the only vegetable that can grow to any advantage on ground where it is; corn seldom thrives with it. Flax in a wet season will partially conquer it. Various methods have been tried to destroy it, but no one has yet succeeded except hoeing which is practised two years in succession, and at least six times every summer; cutting it, pulling it up, and covering it with chips, straw, swingling-tow, have been practised to no purpose. It will migrate from field to field in the course of a few years, apparently exhausting in one place all the nourishment fitted for the support of its noxious qualities. It is propagated by transplanting it; and by the seed, which is blown to great distances by the winds, by means of a down attached to it. The frost kills the root annually as far into the earth as it is communicated to it. The roots descend to great depth if not stopped by rocks, clay, or hardpan. The roots are frequently found twenty feet below the surface. Its blossom is of a pale pink colour, and shaped like the saffron, and like it armed with innumerable prickles from an eighth to half an inch in length, as are also every leaf from bottom to top, I do not know that it has any medicinal qualities. It has a bitter and slightly astringent taste. It exhales, particularly when in bloom, an unpleasant narcotic odour. Cattle feed sparingly on it at any time. Some horses will feed upon it if cut when young and dried like hay.-In fact, I know of no good that it

ap

does on earth. I think it difficult to describe the pearance of it satisfactorily to you without a drawing of it, which I have not time to perform at present. If these observations should be of any service I shall be rewarded for penning them. If it should be your wish I can get a drawing of the plant, also a correct botanical description of it, from a friend of mine in the State of Vermont. I shall be happy in doing any thing to rid society of such a noxious plant or to alleviate, in any degree, the evils produced by it. I am with respect, &c.

TIMOTHY DEWEY.

No. II.

Letter from Mr. Dewey to Dr. Mitchill, dated

DEAR SIR,

Albany, 14th July, 1810.

I send you by the steam-boat, a specimen of the "Canada Thistle," which I think will enable you to form a more correct opinion of its qualities than you could gain from any description that could be given of it. I think the description which I sent Mr. Bulkley, last winter, from recollection was correct in all its material parts. The specimen which I send was taken from a small plot of it in the town of Coemans about ten miles from this city.. I have not been able to get a botanical description of it, nor any thing new relative to the best method of destroying it. I am inclined to believe that hoeing two or three years in succession is the only way it can be conquered. I have seen a letter (which was published in the Albany Register,) from Mr. Saunders of the Vermont university. He

See No, 3, under this article.