RHODODENDRON CHRYSANANTHUM. ORD. XVII. Bicornes. SOF 
they preve a narcotic poison, producing those symptoms which we 
have described as occasioned by many of the order Solanacez.* 
As a powerful and active medicine this shrub may probably be 
found an important addition to the Materia Medica. Dr. Home, 
who tried it unsuccessfully in some cases of acute rheumatism, says, 
“it appears to be one of the most: powerful sedatives which we 
have, as in most of the trials it made the pulse remarkably slow, 
and in one patient reduced it 38 beats.”* And in other cases in 
which the Rhododendron has been used at Edinburgh, it has been 
productive of good effects, and accordingly it is now introdueed 
into the Edinburgh Pharmacopeeia.£ The manner of using this 
plant by the Siberians, was by putting two drams of the dried 
leaves in an earthen pot, with about ten ounces of boiling water, 
keeping it near a boiling heat for a night, and this they took in the 
morning, and by repeating it three or four times generally effected 
a cure. It is said to occasion heat, thirst, a degree of delirium, 
and a peculiar sensation of the parts affected. 
@ These effects were produeed on a. goat, which, by eating ten leaves of the plant, 
was seized in a few minutes with tremblings, sopor, &c. See Steller in Gmelin, l. c. 
It has also been remarked by Steller, that the effects of this plant have been found 
to vary according to its solum natale: thus, that produced in a certain place, has 
been found uniformly narcotic, that of another cathartic, and a sense of suffocation: 
was the only symptom occasioned by a third. Vide Gmelin, l.c. 
¢ Clin. Exper. p. 140. * See Duncan’s Edinb. Dispens. p. 264.. 
Other medicinal plants of the order Bicornes, which have not 
been noticed in this work, are, 
Systematic Names. Orrictnat. Excuism. 
Vaccinium Vitis Idea. ~ Vitis idea _ Red Bilberry 
Xycoccos Oxycoccos Cranberry 
—Myrtillus Myrtillus Blea-berry 
Eedum palustre Rosmarinius sylvestris Wild Rosemary 
Pyrola rotundifolia: Pyrola Winter-green 
Lawsonia inermis. Alkanna vera Smooth Lawsonia: 
Tamarix gallica Tamariscus French Tamarisk. 
No. 22.—vot. 2.. AG 
