156 FLORA HOMCEOPATHICA. 



Geographical Distribution.— Great Britain, France, and 

 a great part of Europe. Found in hedges and woods near 



villages, etc. 



Parts used in Medicine, and Mode of Preparation. 

 The Liber, or Inner Bark {cortex interior Sambtwi), reduced to 

 paste by means of a little alcohol in a mortar. The juice is 

 expressed and treated in the same manner as that of fresh 

 plants. Many also use the united juices of the leaves and 

 flowers, mixed with equal parts of alcohol, and then attenuated 

 as usual. 



Physiological Effects. — On Plants. Plants are affected 



from the exhalation of the Elder. No plants will grow under 



the shadow of this tree. 



On Animals. — The berries are said to be poisonous to poultry, 



and the flowers to peafowls. If turnips, cabbages, fruit -trees, 

 or corn (which are subject to blight from a variety of insects) are 

 whipped with the green leaves and branches of Elder, the insects 

 will not attack them {With., 1. c. ; vide Philos. Trans., vol. lxii. 

 p. 348). 



On Man. — The whole plant has an unpleasant narcotic smell, 

 and some authors {Barthol. Hist. Anat. Bar.) state that its 

 exhalations are so noxious as to render it unsafe to sleep under 

 its shade. 



The inner bark {liber) has scarcely any smell, and very little 



taste. On first chewing, it expresses a degree of sweetishness, 

 which is followed by very slight but durable acrimony, in which 

 its powers seem to reside. It acts violently on the internal coat 

 of the intestines, and its action, both as an emetic and cathartic, 

 is occasionally so violent that inflammation of the intestines has 

 been produced, and death has been the result. 



Medical Uses (Homceopathic). — Hahnemann 's observations: 

 " With the exception of Chamomilla, no plant has been so little 



* For further physiological effects, see the provings of this medicine in Hah- 

 nemann's Mat. Med. Pura 3 vol. iv. 



