110 ‘ ORD. VI. Umbellate. CONIUM MACULATUM. 
‘of very little importance, requiring only a proportionate adjustment 
of the dose, which, under the direction of a skilful practitioner, 
will always be regulated by its effects only, beginning with a few 
grains of the extract or powder, and increasing it daily? till a slight 
‘vertigo or other symptoms manifest the sufficiency of the dose: and 
unless this method has been pursued, the medicine cannot be said 
to have had an efficient trial. “ An extract from the seeds is said 
to produce giddiness sooner than that from the leaves. Hence, 
while both the London and Edinburgh Colleges have given a place 
‘to the succus spissatus cicutz, into the pharmacopeeia of the latter 
‘an extractum seminum cicutz is also introduced.” 
P This should also be attended-to on recommencing with a fresh parcel of the 
‘medicine, as it may differ very materially from the former preparation used; of 
‘this Dr. Cullen gives a remarkable instance, strongly evincing the necessity of such 
-a precaution, I. \c. 4 Duncan’s Edin. New Dis. 
The powder of'the dried leaves of Hemlock seems to act with more certainty, 
cand is more to be depended upon than the extract; great caution however is 
required in drying and preserving these leaves. Dr. Withering recommends the 
fellowing methed, which appears to us extremely proper: ‘¢ Let the leaves be 
gathered abeut the end of June, when the plant is in flower. Pick off the little 
eaves, and throw away the leaf stalks. Dry these selected little leaves in a hot 
sun, or in a tin dripping pan er pewter. dish before the fire. Preserve them in 
‘bags made of strong brown paper, or powder them and keep the powder in glass 
vials, in a drawer or something that will exclude the light, for the light soon 
dissipates the beautiful green colour, and with its celour the medicine loses its 
efficacy. From 15 to 25 grains of this powder may be taken twice or thrice @ 
day, I have found it particularly usefal in chronic rheumatisms, and also in many 
of those diseases which are usually supposed to arise from acrimony.. The nature 
of this book does not allow minute details of the virtues of plants, but I can 
assure the medical practitioner, that this is well worth his attention.” Bot. Arr. 
2d Ed. p. 280. 
NS oe 
seminar 
