DULCAMARA. 263 
ischuria, hemorrhoidal affections, etc. etc. Dr. Pearson (Synop. 
Mat. Med.) gave an infusion of the stalks with benefit in 
humoral asthma and dropsy. 
Description.—This beautiful and well-known shrub flowers 
from June to August. The root is woody. The stem shrubby, 
somewhat climbing branches, thinly set with small, pointed tuber- 
cles, slightly angular, and growing, when supported, to the 
height of from eight to ten feet. The branches are alternate, 
the younger ones of a purplish hue, the lower ones covered 
with a greyish-green bark. The leaves are alternated, acute, 
on leaf-stalks, generally smooth, the lower ones egg or heart- 
shaped, the upper ones more or less perfectly halbert-shaped ; 
all entire at the margin. Flowers in branched clusters, either 
opposite to the leaves or terminal, purple, with two green tuber- 
cles at the base of each segment. -Anthers yellow, large, united 
into a pyramidal or cone-shaped figure. Dr. Withering observes 
that the anthers, on the first opening of the flower, are easily 
separable, but that afterwards they become drier, and tear whilst 
endeayouring to disunite them. Berry egg-shaped, bright red, 
glossy, bitter, and poisonous. Ray mentions a hairy variety 
growing on the southern coast of England. Baxter states his 
having seen this variety at Dorton, in Oxfordshire. The white- 
flowered variety has been noticed about Glasgow by Mr. Hop- 
kirk, and near Oxford by Miss Baxter. 
GEocRAPHICAL DistRisuTion.—In most parts of Europe, 
Greece, and as far north as Norway. 
Locanities.—Very general in moist hedges and thickets, on 
the banks of ditches, and sometimes on old walls. More rare 
in Scotland and Ireland. ; 
Parts usep ry Mepiorng, aND Move or PREPARATION. 
Quin (Phar. Hom.) orders the juice from the young branches 
and leaves of the plant, when it commences to flower. Jahr 
orders the fresh juice expressed from the plant before the flower- 
ing season. But Murray (App. Med., vol. 1. p. 424) states that 
the sensible qualities of the plant are strongest in the autumn, 
