No. 25. cbsrztrM. igi 



light, but not by fire. It contains Gum, Extractive, 

 a green fecula, Resin, Albumen and many alkalies: 

 but no essential oil. The taste is bitter and nau- 



seous. 



PROPERTIES— A powerful acrid narcotic and 

 resolvent; but the uncertainty of its action lessens 

 Us value. It is never dangerous in very small doses, 

 often repeated, and gradually increased. It is also an 

 efficient anodyne, sedative and antispasmodic, useful 

 to allay pain in acute diseases. It has been recom- 

 mended in many chronic diseases, such as cancer, 

 epilepsy, mania, syphilis, &c. but in those cases it 

 acts only as a palliation to pain, like opium, to which 

 it is often preferable, as less constipating. 



The diseases in which it has been found useful, are 

 chronic abcesses, schlrrose tumors, foul ulcers, ric- 

 kets, caries, repelled itch, abdominal and internal 

 swellings, obstructions, hemicrania, dropsy of the 

 joints, obstinate ophthalmia and cataracts, &c. In all 

 these cases it acts as an efficient repellent and resol- 

 vent. 



True Schirrus and Cancer cannot be cured by it; 

 but obstinate and scrofulous tumors or swelled testi- 

 cles (which terminate in, or are mistaken for schir- 

 rus) have been removed by its use. 



The effects of this plant are so variable, that some 

 physicians have pronounced it inert or a mere diuretic, 

 having been deceived in their prescriptions owing to 

 bad preparations or otherwise. 



In tic douleureux it has afforded relief or even cfl 

 fected a cure, when nothing else could avail. While 



