182 FLORA ROMCEOPATHICA. 



The name Spigelia was given to this genus by Linnseus, in 

 commemoration of an old botanist of considerable note, Adrian 

 Spigelius, who was born in Brussels in 1578. 



Its chief employment in allopathic medicine has been as a 

 vermifuge. 



Description — Annual. Flowers in July. The root is 

 blackish on the outside, fibrous. Stem herbaceous, a foot and 

 a half high, channelled, and branched. Leaves opposite, in 

 pairs; those which terminate the branches, four together, in 

 the form of a cross, ovate, pointed. Flowers in short, herba- 

 ceous clustered spikes, ranged on one side of the footstalk. 

 When fresh this plant has a poisonous, foetid odour, which, 

 enclosed in a room, may even cause narcotism; the taste is 

 nauseous, and remains a long time on the tongue. 



Geographical Distribution. — Native of the West Indies; 

 South America ; Brazil ; Cayenne, etc. 



Parts used in Medicine, and Mode of Preparation. 



The Dry Herb, powdered, of which we make the first three 

 attenuations by trituration. The alcoholic tincture may be 

 obtained as in all other dry vegetable substances. 



Physiological Effects. — Dr. Browne states that its nar- 

 cotic properties are soon made evident ; and in poisonous doses 

 it gives rise to vertigo, dimness of vision, dilatation of the 



of the eyelids. 



A) 



:) . — Hah n emann 



Hahnemann, after remarking on the uselessness of employing 

 a medicine solely to expel worms from the intestine, without 

 attacking the cause of those parasites, says : " This power, how- 

 ever, it must possess, because many observations have proved 

 that it has restored patients to health, without the expulsion of 

 a single worm ; yet it continues to be regarded as an anthel- 

 mintic only. But thus to limit instead of enlarging its applica- 

 tion, is to act like one who employs the most valuable instru- 

 ments upon an insignificant object. The various and highly 



