FOLIA CO^^TL 301 



suKstitute for the dried leaf in making the tincture. But it has been 

 shown that a tincture, whether of leaf or fruit, is a preparation of very 

 small value, and that it is far inferior to the preserved juice of the 

 herb. It has however been pointed out by W. ]\Ianlius Smith/ and 

 his observations have been confirmed by Harley,^ that the green unr}j>e 

 fruits possess more than any other part the peculiar energies of t!ie 

 plant, and that they may even be dried without loss of activit3\ A 

 medicinal fluid extract of considerable power has been made from them 

 by Squibb of New York. 



FOLIA CONII. 



Hemlock Leaves ; F, Feiiilles de Cigiie ; G. SchierUngsUatipr. 



Botanical Origin — Conmm macidatum L., see p. 290. 

 History— See p. 299. 



Description — Hemlock in its first year produces only a tuft of 

 leaves ; but in its second a stout erect stem which often grows to the 

 lieight of or 9 feet, is much branched in its upper part, and terminates 

 m small umbels, each having about 12 raj^s. The lower leaves, often a 

 foot in length, have a triangular outline, and a hollow stalk as long as 

 the lamina, clasping the stem at its base with a membranous sheath. 

 Towards the upper portion of the plant, the leaves have shorter stalks, 

 are less divided, and are opposite or in cohorts of 3 to 5. The invoJucnal 

 bracts are lanceolate, reflexed, and about a \ of an inch long. Tliuse of 

 the partial umbel are turned towards the outside, and are always 3 i]i 

 number. The larger leaves are twice or thrice pinnate, tlie ultimate 

 segments being ovate-oblong, acute, and deeply incised. 



The stem is cylindrical and hollow, of a glaucous green, generally 



niurked on its lower part with reddish-brown spots. The leaver arc of 



a dull dark green, and like the rest of the plant quite glabrous. Tliey 



have when bruised a disagreeable foetid smell. 



For medicinal purposes the plant should be taken when in full 

 blossom.* 



^ Chemical Composition — The leaves of hemlock contain, though 

 ^n exceedingly small proportion, the same alkaloids as the fruits. Gciger 

 obtained from the fresh herb not so much as one ten-thousandth part of 

 Conine. It is probable however that the active constituents vary in 

 proportion considerably, and that a dry and sunny climate promotes 

 their development. 



The same observer, as well as Pereira, has pointed out that hemlock 

 leaves when dried are very frequently almost devoid of conine, and the 

 observation is supported by the more recent experimentsofHarley (1S67). 

 Ithas also been shown by the last-named physician, that the inspissated 

 J^ice known in pharmacy as Extractmn Conii usually contains but a 

 ^^^ere trace of alkaloid, the latter having in fact been dissipated by the heat 



1 



T 



Medical buJ, in M'liich state it affords far more of 

 f .'/ tor 1867. loaf than when well isiaturcil ; but it is in 



The old Verjekihle Neurotics, Loiul. 1SG9, the latter condition that the plant is to be 



\vk7^^ L^^ii^lon herbalists often collect it preferred. 

 ^"^ much of the infiorescenee is stiU in 



