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758 . ORD. XLVI. Liliatece. VERATRUM ALBUM. 
Veratrum was followed by those of several other authors," in which 
it is said to have been serviceable in various chronic diseases. 
But the fullest trial which seems to have been lately made of the 
efficacy of Veratrum is by Greding,? who employed it in a great 
number of cases, (twenty-eight) of the maniacal and melancholic 
kind ; the majority of these, as might be expected, derived no 
permanent benefit; several however were relieved, and five com- 
pletely cured by this medicine. It was the bark of the root, col- 
lected in the spring, which he gave in powder, beginning with one 
grain: this dose was gradually increased according to its effects. 
‘ith some patients one or two grains excited nausea and vomiting, 
but generally eight grains were required to produce this effect, 
though in a few instances a scruple, and even more, was given. 
We may also remark, that he sometimes used the extract prepared 
alter ae s manner — almost ae case ae herelates, the: 
purging were . very sonceay prodchd; and he: matter thrown off 
the stomach was constantly mixed with bile; a florid redness fre-~ 
quently appeared on the face, and various cutaneous efflorescences 
upon the body; and, in some pleuretic, symptoms with fever: 
supervened, so as to require bleeding, nor where the more alarm+ 
ing affections of spasms and convulsions unfrequent. — Critical 
evacuations, we are told, were often very evident, many sweated 
profusely, i in some the urine was considerably increased} in others, 
the saliva and the mucous discharges: also uterine obstructions, 
ef long continuance, were often rémoved by this drug. 
Veratrum has likewise been found useful in epilepsy, and other 
" Hannemann, Quercetanus, Screta, Wepfer, Muralto, Linder. 
* Vermischte Med, u. chirurg. Schristen. Altenb. 1781, to p. 30. 
Wendt relates a case of mania, brought on by taking pepper and spirits of wine as 
a remedy for the ague; the disease continued thirty-three weeks, when it was said 
to have been cured by a decoction of white hellebore; but as copious and repeated 
bleedings, with other means, were employed, the cure cannot wholly be ascribed 
to the hellebore, See Agassiz, Diss. de therapia manic. Eri. 1785. p. 37. 
aici ll, — 
