772 PJEONIA. LCLASS XIII. ORDER II. 



part of a grain dissolved in spirit of wine killed a sparrow in a few 

 minutes, and the 20th instantly. Applied to the eye it occasions a 

 temporary dilatation of the pupil." See London Pharmacopeia, 1836. 

 The symptoms produced by Aconitum are those of the Narcotico- 

 Acrids, when taken in small doses causing a tingling sensation in the 

 jaws and whole body, twitching of the muscles, fixing of the eyes, 

 locked jaw, and failure of the pulse and breathing, but without any 

 aberration of mind. Phil. Trans, v. 38, p. 287. M.Pallas has re- 

 corded several cases of death caused by this plant, in which the 

 symptoms were vomiting, purging, burning in the throat, colic, and 

 swelling of the belly ; and other cases are mentioned where delirium 

 was caused in addition to the other symptoms. 



Notwithstanding the violent effects of this plant, like many other 

 deliterious and dangerous productions in the hands of the careful and 

 judicious physician, it has been found a most valuable means of relief 

 in nervous affections, gout, rheumatism, &c. The Aconitina is too 

 powerful a medicine for internal exhibilion, but in the proportion of 

 one grain to a drachm of lard it has been found useful as an external 

 application in neuralgic affections. The spirituous infusion of the 

 leaves in the proportion of one part of the leaves to six of proof spirit, 

 is recommended and given in doses of from five to ten drops, gradually 

 increasing it according to circumstances. 



GENUS XII. P^O'NIA.— Linn. P^Bony. 



Nat. Ord. Ranuncula'ce^. De Cand. 



Gek. Char. Calyx persistent, of five unequal pieces. Petals five, 

 or many. Stigmas ligulale. Capsules two to five, one celled, 

 many seeded. — Named in honour of the Physician Pceon, who, 

 according to the Greek legend, is said to have cured Pluto of a 

 wound inflicted by Hercules. 

 1. P. corralWnay Retz. (Fig. 881.) Entire-leaved Pceony. Herba- 

 ceous, capsules tomentose, recurved ; leaves twice ternate, the segments 

 ovate, entire, smooth. 



English Botany, t. 1513. — English Flora, vol. iii. p. 29. — Hooker, 

 British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p. 215. — Lindley, Synopsis, p. 14. 



Root of fleshy fascicles. Stem herbaceous, smooth, nearly erect, 

 about two feet high, round, leafy, reddish. Leaves twice ternate, with 

 ovate or oblong entire smooth leaflets, rarely pinnated. Flower ter- 

 minal, solitary, a beautiful crimson, about four inches across. Calyx 

 inferior, of five unequal concave reflexed pieces. Petals five, roundish 

 oblong, concave, spreading. Stamens numerous, with slender linear 

 crimson filaments, and yellow ovate oblong anthers, of two cells. 

 Styles none. Stigmas oblong, obtuse, compressed, recurved, deep red. 



