174 FLORA HOMGOPATHICA. 
swallowing. The patient died in about sixteen hours (Can- 
statt’s Jahrb., 1844, v. 296). 
A boy, aged six years, ate some of the root of the Cicuta 
aquatica, which he mistook for parsnip; in a very short time 
he suffered from great anxiety at the precordia, spoke a few 
words, and fell to the ground. A short time afterwards, horrible 
convulsive movements came on; he lost the use of his senses, 
and his mouth was firmly closed; he ground his teeth; the 
eyes were turned up in an extraordinary manner, and blood 
was discharged from the ears; he tried to vomit, without being 
able to open his mouth; his head was constantly thrown back, 
and there was severe opisthotonos. The convulsions gradually 
ceased, and he expired about half an hour after the first invasion 
of the symptoms. The abdomen and face were swollen after 
death, and there was slight lividity about the eyes ( Wepfer, 
l. c., pp- 5-9). 
Meprcat Uses (Homa@oratuic).—Hahnemann’s observations : 
“More profound and complete investigation will show that 
this remedy is beneficial in uncommon cases, to which no other 
medicine is homeopathically adapted, and, above all, in chronic 
cases, for I have seen its action continue for three weeks even 
in small doses. Until now, it has never been given internally, 
for whenever Hemlock was prescribed, as it frequently was 
some years ago, Conium maculatum was always understood. 
“The juice of Cicuta virosa was only used externally, as re- 
commended by Linnzus. It enters into the composition of the 
Hemlock plaster of the Danish Pharmacopeia, which was 
applied to soothe gouty pains. 
‘The juice of the fresh root (for when dried it is less power- 
ful) is so active, that in the common practice no one dares to 
give it internally, as it is usual to give none but large doses. It 
has therefore been set aside, and its healing qualities dis- 
regarded. 
“The homeopaths only take advantage of its virtues, making 
use of the thirtieth dilution.” 
