CONIUM MACULATUM. 
surface, but paler underneath. The rays of the umbels are 
ten or twelve, those of the umbellules fifteen or sixteen. The 
involucre consists of from three to seven short, turned-down, 
lancet-shaped leaflets with white edges spread at the base, 
the involucel of three or four leaflets on one side only, and 
spreading. The flowers are very small, the petals white, the 
outer ones rather longer than the inner, cordate, inflected. 
The stamens the length of the petals, supporting white orbieu- 
lar anthers. The styles two, filiform, diverging, and crowned 
with round stigmas. ‘The fruit is ovate, striated, smooth, 
and brownish when ripe. 
Hemlock is distinguished from other umbelliferous plants 
with which it may be confounded by its large and spotted 
stem, the dark and shining color of its lower leaves, and their 
disagreeable smell when fresh and bruised, resembling in 
some degree the urine of a cat. 
For medical use, the leaves should be gathered about the 
end of June, or early in July, when the plant is in flower, the — 
small leaflets picked off, and the footstalks thrown away. 
The picked leaflets are then to be properly dried, and as ex- 
posure to the air and light destroys the fine green color of 
the plant, and injures its active qualities, the dried leaflets 
must be preserved in boxes completely filled by gently press- 
ing down the leaves, then covered with a closely fitted lid, 
wrapped in paper, and sealed; or if powdered, the powder 
may be preserved good in closely-stopped opaque — 
many years. 
As powders are generally affected by the action of the air 
and light, all powders should be kept in opaque or green — 
glass bottles. The effect of light on a majority of powders i is 
rendered obvious by the labelled side of clear bottles contain- 
ing them, which are always turned to the light, becoming 
incrusted with the powder, changed in its color, while the 
other side remains clear and transparent. 
According to Linneus, sheep eat the leaves, but ata , 
cows, and goats refuse them. Ray informs us that the thrush — 
will feed upon the seeds, even when corn or grain is to. be 
: had. Qustia: says hemlock is eaten by few or no insects. _ 
CHEMICAL AND MEDICAL PROPERTIES AND ne 
