Spigelia Marilandica. 81 
in convulsions, to this article. Dr. H. Thompson found large doses of 
the root, to produce in his own system, acceleration of the pulse, 
flushed face, drowsiness, and stiffness of the eye-lids. Notwithstand- 
ing these narcotic effects, which have undoubtedly followed the use 
of the plant, it is said that no danger need reasonably be appre- 
hended from them: and some eminent physicians even assert, that 
they merely indicate the favourable operation of the medicine. 
The use of pink-root has not been confined to cases of 
worms. Dr. Garden mentioned, in the first letter to Dr. Hope, 
which was written about the year 1763, that “its purgative quality 
naturally led him to give it in febrile diseases, which seemed to arise 
from viscidity of the prime vie; and in these cases it succeeded to 
admiration, even when the sick did not void worms.” According 
to Dr. Garden, the pink-root never does much good, except when 
it operates gently as a purgative. Hence it has become a common 
practice to unite calomel or rhubarb with it, in order to ensure the 
cathartic effect, which has already been said to be very uncertain. 
He recommended that a vomit should be given previously to the 
administration of the pink-root; and this practice is often adopt- 
ed; and almost universally, a mercurial cathartic is given after the 
-pink-root. The late Professor Barton recommends this medicine 
in the protracted remitting fever of infants, which is supposed to lay 
the foundation of hydrocephalus. Garden, and others, since his 
time, have combined the Aristolochia serpentaria with this plant, 
VOL, I. 44 
