60 NAT. ORDER. RANUNCULACE.E. 



qualities arc the same, lor this species is eveu mure nearly allied 

 to the ancient Greek plant, Ilcllehorus oricntcdls, than the Hellebore nigcr. 



Hdleborus fuct'idus. Foeted Hellebore. This species rises from 

 two to three feet in height ; the stem is many-flowered, and leafy ; 

 leaves pedate, very smooth ; segments oblong-linear. This is an 

 evergreen plant with green flowers, w-liich are tinged on their edges 

 with purple. The whole herb is fa'ted, acrid, and violently cathartic, 

 with a nauseous taste, especially when fresh. The leaves when 

 dried, are sometimes given as a domestic medicine to destroy worms, 

 but they must be used sparingly, being so ^^ole^t in their operation, 

 that many of their fetal eflfects are recorded. A dose of about fil'teeu 

 grains of the powder of the dried leaves is given to childi'en, which 

 proves gently emetic and pm-gative. The decoction of about a drachm 

 of fresh leaves being considered equal to fifteen grains of the dried 

 ones ; it is usually repeated on two, and sometimes three successive 

 days, and seldom fails to bring away worms, if there be any in the in- 

 testinal canal. Native of Portugal, Spain, Italy, &c., in waste places. 



Medical Properties and Uses. Black Hellebore when taken into 

 the stomach, or applied externally to wounds, its effects are very 

 sudden and viijlent : although many writers consider this root to be 

 perfectly innocent and sale ; yet we laid many ])roofs of its poison- 

 ous eirects ; the symptoms of which are most distressing. It occa- 

 sions violent vomiting and purging, attended with griping and cold 

 sweat, great derangement of the nervous system, and if it contiiuie 

 long in the alimentary canal, it becomes inflamed, which symptoms 

 may, in a measm-e, be prevented at the connnencement by giving 

 active emetics and laxatives. It often proves a very powerful 

 emmenagogue in plethoric habits, where steel is ineffectual or im- 

 proper. It is very drastic in its operations, therefore while we have 

 in our possession remedies of equal efllcacy, and harmless, and such 

 as can be depended on, we would recommend its use only in extreme 

 cases. A single leaf powdered is said to be three doses for a child. 



