336 KEW GARDEN MUSEUM.. 
Pure and powerful bitter; the roofs are used as tonics, especially in 
North America, the plant being a native of Canada and Siberia (United 
Society).—Our specimens are packed and compressed in oblong cakes; 
a common practice with the herbalists in the United States: or at any 
rate with a remarkable and highly respectable religious sect there called 
the “United Society ;” more generally known under the denomination 
of “Shakers.” Their preparations and extracts are highly valued 
throughout the United States, and their export trade is very large. We 
are indebted to this Society for an extensive collection of native and 
cultivated herbs. They are easily recognized by being packed in cakes, 
a form which most of them retain after being removed from their papers. 
—See some account of this Society in the present volume, p. 278. 
Mishmee Teeta. Coptis Teeta, Wall. Assam (E. I. Company; in 
small baskets).—Used as a tonic in Assam. 
Fennel-flower. Nigella sativa, L. Europe and Northern India. 
Seeds and oil; the latter used by“ English's Patent Camphine Com- 
pany.” Seeds were formerly employed instead of pepper, being pun- 
gent: still used in India as a condiment and a medicine. Dr. Royle is 
of opinion that the pungent seeds used by the Affghans for flavouring 
curries, under the name of Siak Dana, a species of Nigella, is probably 
the Black Cumin of Scripture. $ 
Stavesacre (Seeds). Delphinium Staphisagria, Z. These are ex- 
tremely poisonous, and owe their quality to a peculiar alkali called Del- 
phinia, and are powerfully emetie, drastic, and inflammatory ; chiefly 
used in external applications. Native of the South of Europe: 
Field Larkspur. Delphinium consolida, Z. Seeds. Yield a blue 
dye (Messrs. Lawson). 
Aconite Root and Extract. Aconitum Napellus, Z. South of 
Europe (J. H. Kent, Esq., a portion of his beautifully prepared collec- 
tion of pharmaceutical indigenous herbs). A narcotico-acrid poison; 
and many cases are recorded of fatal results from the improper use of 
it. The root and leaves and extract are much used in paralysis, epi- 
lepsy, and various other maladies. Samples of pure Acomitine (Mr. 
Morson) ; Mannite from Monk’s-hood root (Messrs. J. and H. Smith). 
Zemu. Under this name we have the root of an Aconite, from 
Northern India (Dr. Hooker), Species and properties unknown. 
JBikh. Aconitum ferox, Wall. A. palmatum, Don. Roots. Ne- - 
pal and Sikkim (Dr. Hooker). Root. Ranks amongst the most viru- 
lent of vegetable poisons. The Goorkahs employ it to poison their 
