4100 POLYGALA SENEGA. 
in most eases be given in doses of a table spoonful 
and upward without disturbing the stomach, 
_. The first reputation of the Seneca root was one 
which it divides with a multitude of other plants, 
that of curing the bite of the Rattlesnake. A re- 
ward was given by the legislature of Pennsylva- 
nia to Dr. Tennent for the promulgation of this 
supposed property. When, however, we consider 
the number of cases of recovery from the bite of 
this serpent, under every variety of treatment, we 
cannot avoid the conclusion, that these injuries 
are not necessarily dangerous, and that spontane- 
ous recoveries are perhaps as frequent as those | 
which. are promoted by medicine. , 3 
More certain. success attends the use prs i % 
—— in pneumonia and some diseases related to 
_ Tn the advanced stages of pneumonic inflam- 
senee venesection and the other usual rem- 
edies have been carried to their proper extent; and 
the cough still remains dry and painful, while the 
debility of the patient forbids further depletion ; 
in these cases, I have often found a decoction of — 
the. Seneca root. to afford very marked relief by | 
promoting expectoration, and relieving the tight- 
ness and oppression of the ehest. . Various medi- 
cal writers have spoken favourably of its employ- — 
