Litchfield enquirer., 1838-12-20

The leaves resemble those of pear Tree, 1 but are much larger and evergreen the blos- sonls are similar to the tulip, and when il full bloom, il is considered inc most grand, beautiful and impusing object in the vegcta- l ble kingdom. lSut it is of the most poison. | ouS nature its root, bark, sap, leaves and fruit, are all destructive poisonS. Its twigs and branchcs operate as a slow, malignant, and incurable poison, of q peculiar quality, destructive of animals and men. It has been recently discovered und satisfactorily tested, that the browsing upon the sl!rtlt about its root, is the cails, of that mysterious disease called the Milk Sickness.
 The fruit when fully ripe, has an inviting appcarance, but it soon takes dry rol, and the inside becomes a poisonous and disagree
 able dust, in appearance resembling Scotch Snutf Notwithstanding it's noXiOus quall- 1 IicS. cattle and various other animals are tolG
 of inuuenting it and feeding on its leaves,
 and they frequently die in it's vicinity. Nu.
 ,nerous skeletons of anima,s may he found 1 in the bottom, within mile round, h't when
 taken in small quantities, 1t terminates In lIn-
 pering and uncomfortable milk s!ckness.- Since the tree has been fenced in, no milk
 sickness has existed. The wood of the tree is as solid and heavy us lignlisn-VitB or eoo- nv, and from it's similarity, some intelligent l ntTSOnS
 brated tree called the Bohan Opas m the
 East Indies. When any part of the green
 tree is lacerated, a peculiar gum cXudes rom tilv wou.1a iif1e ,,ntt, whi.o turPentine. which
 is esteemed one of the strongest poisons, and
 will blister and seriously injure and ulcerate
 the human body if applied externally.
 I.:s thought by some persons that ths tree
 might be advantageous]y used in the prac. tice of medicine, if it's powerful medical qualities were properly understood, but its , poison is so destructive that every person , here is afraid to make any experiments with
 it. If the citizens of those parts ot illinois, Ohio and Kentucky, that are afflicted with , inc milk sickness, will make proper cxami- nation. I have no doubt that they will find } somewhere in the sick district solitary tree,
 similar to the one | have described above,
 and if they will destroy or enclose the tree, they will eifectually prevent the disease. Ma nv marvellous stories are told in the neigh
 borhood, but respecting many of them am very credulous, but the foregoing statement
 I have prepared from personal observation,
 and from information in which could place implicit confidence. If you should desire 1 further information respecting this tree, I ! will take pleasure in answering any inqui-
 ries directed to me by mail, to Missouri-town,
 my nearest post-office. a.sr o& 1 WASHINGTON, Dec. 6, 1888. 1 More Defalcations.-Gen. Grdtiot ot the En. l gineer Department, was yesterday dismissed ] from the service of his country. Whether ae is defaulter or not, do not know. Runor, and other oracles which as often retail fiction as truth, says that in making up his report, he admitted himself minus or deficient in the round sum of thirty thousand dollars! It is reported, however, that he claims of the go- yernment that amount in commissions for disbursements, and wi,hholds the money to secure himself. The President refused 10 admit his right to the commissions thus charged, and instantly caused his name to be erased from the Army list.
 If the fact be as "runor hath it, then
 do not see that Gen. Gratiot can be technlc-
 ally pronounced defaulter. Whether ho be morally defaulter, is a fact which yet I Tenlains to be decided. It IS 10 be hoped he is not defaulter, for who can wish 10 see a
 man who has stood we'll with the world, dis
 honored, disgraced, ruined, and his children loaded with poverty, and a parents ignomi- ny3 y aeas-. :, Mir. Prics's dedication, has produced much sensation at the metropolis, and well 1t might. He was believed to be incapable of a dishonorable action, ana had many warm personal friends at Washington, among tSe conflicting parties. am told, that in Ter. he jumped on board of the Liverpool steamer, he admitted himself 10 be defaulter, and added, Swartwout was not guilty" This is to be doubted, however, and cannot he be- lieved, unless we suffer our credulty to be stretched to its utmost teEsion.-U. s. Gag.
 pENNSYIVANIA LEGISL LATURE.