NAT. ORDER. — RANUNCULACEiE. 49 



land, where it was first discovered, but is found growing wild in 

 the northern parts of the United States and the Canadas. 



Medical rropertics and Uses. Tlie Ilelkborus niger, thouoh 

 constantly used in medicine since the time of Hippocrates, was 

 the only species of Hellebore known in the Materia Medica of the 

 pharmacop6eias, till the late introduction of this plant by the Lon- 

 don College, probably upon the authority of Dr. Bisset, who re- 

 commends the leaves as possessing extraordinary anthelminthic 

 powers. The smell of the recent plant is extremely foetid, and 

 the taste is bitter and remarkably acrid, insomuch that when 

 chewed it excoriates the mouth and fauces ; it usually operates 

 as a carthartic, but sometimes as an emetic, and, in large doses, 

 proves highly deleterious. The leaves are the only part noticed 

 by the London College, which have been long domestically em- 

 ployed in that country, mostly for their vermifuge effects ; and are 

 thus spoken of by Gerard : " The leaves of the Bear's-foot Helle- 

 bore is by far the most powerful vermifuge for long round worms 

 of any I have yet experienced. The anthelminthic ■s'irtue of this 

 plant is well known to some of the lower classes of England, who 

 generally give it to their children when they suspect them to have 

 worms. The decoction of the green leaves, taken in quantities of 

 about a drachm, or fifteen grains of the dried leaves taken in pow- 

 der, is the usual dose administered to children from four to seven 

 years of age : a full or sufficient dose generally proves more or 

 less emetic, and operates as a cathartic. It is usually repeated on 

 two, and sometimes three successive mornings. The second dose 

 proves more serviceable than the first, and never fails to expel 

 round worms by stool, should tliey be Icdged in the alimentary 

 tube." 



I have had an opportunity of witnessing the effects of this 

 medicine in two cases, where it was repeated three times, proving 

 successful in both, by expelling worms. An eminent physician, 

 late from Germany, informs me, that this is their great remedy for 



