«The root of the! Veratrum has a: bitter taste 
accompanied with acrimony, and leaves a durable 
impression on the mouth and fauces when: it has 
been»chewed or swallowed.» It abounds: witha. 
resinous juice, which adheres closely to: a knife 
with which» the) root has: been: ¢ut, ‘This resin 
dissolves abundantly in alcohol. When water. is 
added to the solution, a» white’ :turbidness gradu- 
ally appears rendering the liquid opaque, but with- 
out sediment. |» The» decoction has. an intensely 
bitter taste. It is not: rendered turbid by alcohol 
although some slight flocculi are. ‘separated after 
standing.’ It is probable that this: bitterness. re- 
Sides -in» an’ extractive ‘principle: The distilled 
water of the root: hasia slightly unpleasant. taste, 
witliout bitterness or pungeneyais sed YF  . bavery 
~» This plant in:its: medicinal powers! resembles 
the Veratrum album) or’ White. ‘hellebore. of Eu- 
rope.’ It is‘an acrid emetic anda: powerful stim- 
ulant, followed: by! sedative: effeets. As a’ medicine 
or as a poisonous plant, it has been known. from 
an early: period.’ The :aborigines' of the country 
were fully’ apprized of ‘its: activity.» Josselyn in 
his voyage to New England which took place not 
long-after the’ first: settlement-of. ‘the country, in- 
forms us that:the young: Indians! had a custom. of 
electing their chiefs byassortof ordeal instituted 
