r 
66 
\ 
Upon 
fubje(^ 
ned but few and lefs 
# 
dinary 
proofs of its good effects in certain obftinate and painful difeafes, the 
virtues of cicuta might have been 
held 
they adually are : * wh 
m g 
efti 
tho 
authors, who have 
s 
than 
generally 
condemned this medicine as uniformly ufelefs or dangerous, feem 
have done it equal injuftice." Although we have not in this country any 
direct fads, like thofe mentioned by Stoerck, proving that inveterate 
fcirrhufes, cancers, ulcers, and many other difeafes hitherto deemed 
irremediable, were completely cured by the Cicuta ; we have, how- 
the teilimonies of feveral eminent phyficians, fhewing that fome 
pi 
which had refilled other powerful medicines, yielded 
which, if not really 
were 
\ 
Hemlock ; " and that even fome diford 
cancerous, were at leaft fufpeded to be of that tendency 
atly benefited by this remedy. In chronic rheumatifms, fome 
glandular fwell 
and 
m 
fixed and periodical pains, the 
cicuta is now very generally employed ; and from daily expei 
fuch cafes to be a very efficacious remedy. It has alfo 
in the chincough.* We cannot there- 
found of fmgular ufe 
It 
bei 
fore but confider this plant an important acquifition to the Materia 
Medics!. Externally the leaves of hemlock have been varioufly ap- 
plied with advantage to ulcers, indurated tumours, and gangrenes. 
Much has been faid refpeding the variable nature of this plant, the 
time of colleding it, the part which ought to be preferred, and the 
beft manner of preparing it for medical ufe : but as thefe circumflances 
Th 
V 
M 
eludes with thefe words : « Et fic quldem in multis pertinaciffimis morbis liquandi fpiffa, 
obftruaa referandi et fanginem depurandi, efficacia auxilio fuit." 1. c. 
°» Vide Andree's Obfervations on Stoerck's Pamphlet, anno 1761. Lange Dlff. dubia 
Cicutse vexata. anno 1764. De Haen Epifl. de cicuta, anno 1765. Bierken (Tal 
cm Kreaftfkador) who, with Bergius, fays, that in all cancers it does mifchief. 
« Among thofe we may mention the late Drs. Fothergill and Rutty. 
Med 
Inquir. vol. 3.~-alfo in the 5th vol. the former gives an account of painful affedions of 
the face, which he attributes to cancerous acrimony, removed by the ufe of cicuta.— 
Cullen fays, « I have found it in feveral cafes (of cancer) to relieve the pains and 
mend the quality of the matter proceeding from the fore, and even to make a confider- 
able ^appro^ach towards healing it." Mat. Med. vol. 2. 266. Several others inftance its 
efFed:s 
ifes, and Mr. Hunter comm 
Dr. Butter on the Chincoug 
/ 
feem 
\ 
J 
