Wanderings in South America the North-West of the United States and the Antilles in the Years 1812 1816 1820 and 1824. With Original Instructions for the perfect preservation of Birds Etc. for Cabinets of Natural History. ...

This is a rare or used book from the Berkelouw Rare Books Department.

London: Macmillan and Co. 1879. 8vo. Half morocco over marbled paper boards (slightly rubbed). Gilt. Spine gilt with raised bands. T.e.g. Bound in two volumes Vol. 2 starting at Chapter 4 with no title-page and pagination continued directly from Vol. 1. With num. b/w text-illusts. and marbled endpapers. Endpapers foxed and some minor foxing in Vol. 1. NOTE: An outstanding work on the natural history of Colombia and Venezuela. This classic of exploration is of particular interest in medicine as it contains one of the earliest accounts of curare. Waterton travelled to the Guyana region of South America to obtain curare and he gives detailed descriptions of the paralysing effects of this poison (which he called 'wourali') its preparation by distillation and the blowpipe and darts used to deliver it. Back in England Waterton collaborated with Benjamin Brodie and veterinarian William Sewell in stimulating interest in its medical use.