DICOTYLEDONS 57 



Middle Ages, it was probably introduced and has 

 become a naturalized plant in Britain. 



It exhales a disagreeable odour. The acrid juice 

 is still used in the country as a cure for warts and 

 parasites ; or as an emetic and purgative, but not 

 without harmful results ; for it acts as a strong 

 irritant, not only to the external skin, but especi- 

 ally upon the intestinal digestive organs, producing 

 nausea and dysentery. It is in fact a " drastic 

 purgative.'^ A peculiarity lies in the fact that the 

 poisonous principle remains long in the system ; so 

 that domestic animals poisoned by it should not 

 be eaten. 



The plant used to be called Swallow-wort ; " not," 

 as Gerarde wrote in his Herball (1597), " because it 

 first springeth at the coming in of the swallows, or 

 dieth when they go away — for it may be found 

 all the year ; but because some hold opinion, that 

 with this herb the dams restore sight to their young 

 ones when their eyes be out ; which things are 

 vain and false." 



The Viol:et Family {ViolacecB), Violet 

 {Viola, ^y^^, — Seven species represent this family 

 in Britain. 



Sweet Violet ( V, odoratd). — The flowers are 

 dried and crystallized in sugar ; but are also used 

 medicinally as a " pectoral." The seeds and under- 

 ground stem or rhizome are poisonous. If taken 

 internally these parts incite nausea and great 



