HEMLOCK. 417 
points inflexed. Stamens five, spreading, about the 
length of the corolla. -Germ inferior. Styles two 
reflexed outwardly. Fruit roundish-oval, com- 
pressed, ribbed, the ribs being transyersely wrin- 
kled or crenate ; separating into two oblong-hem- 
ispherical seeds. 
Hemlock when fresh has a strong nauseous 
odour and taste. If the green leaves are distilled, 
the water which collects in the receiver has an in- 
supportably nauseous taste, while that which re- 
mains in the retort is ‘comparatively insipid. 
This circumstance, and likewise the fact that the 
dried leaves become inert by age and exposure, 
render it probable that the chief medicinal efficacy 
resides ina volatile portion of the plant. Of the 
more fixed ingredients of Hemlock, a variety of 
analyses have been made. The most recent which 
I have met with is that of Schrader, who from a 
thousand grains of the plant obtained the following 
substances. Extractive 27. 3—Gummy extract 
35.2—Resin 1.5—Albumen 3.1—Green frcula 
8.—He also detected various earthy and alkaline 
salts. These however are found to vary according 
to the soil in which the plant grows. The vyola- 
tile portion, which I obtained in water distilled 
from the leaves, did not exhibit any essential oil, 
and effected no change in the colour of litmus. It 
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