2. On a new Arrow-Poison from China

Extract

In a newspaper printed at Shanghae, in the spring of 1857, a wonderful account was given of a poison, which was said to be employed in the interior of China for destroying the largest animals. Instant death was said to be produced, when an animal was struck in the trunk of the body with an arrow poisoned with it. Such was its potency, according to the opinion of the Chinese, that a scheme was said to have been set on foot for destroying the British army during the late war, by bringing down to Canton the natives who were in the practice of using it. But the scheme was frustrated by peace being unfortunately proclaimed too soon.