UMBELLIFER. 575 
fruits; it has been reputed of value in intermittent fevers, and as an 
emmenagogue. 
Prangos pabularia.—The herb is used as sheep food in Tartary and the 
adjoining countries, and has been introduced as a forage plant into this 
country. The prevalent idea that its use corrects the tendency to rot in 
sheep is erroneous. 
Sium Sisarum is commonly known under the name of Skirret. It is 
sometimes cultivated for its edible roots. 
Smyrnium Olusatrum, Alexanders.—This plant was formerly cultivated 
like Celery. 
2. AROMATIC, CARMINATIVE, STIMULANT, AND Tonic UMBELLIFER®. 
Peucedanum (Anethum) graveolens, the Dill ; Caruwm Carui, the Caraway ; 
Coriandrum sativum, the Coriander ; Cuminum Cyminum, the Cummin ; 
Daucus Carota, the Carrot ; Feniculum capillaceum (vulgare), the Fennel ; 
Feniculum Panmorium, an Indian species ; Pimpinella Anisum, the Anise ; 
and Ptychotis (Carum) Ajowan, the Ajwain or Omum, a native of Egypt, 
Persia, Afghanistan, &c., and much cultivated in India. The fruits of the 
above plants, commonly termed seeds, all possess aromatic, carminative, and 
more or less stimulant properties, which are due to the presence of volatile 
oils contained either in the vitt, or their pericarps generally. Some are also 
employed as condiments, and for flavouring liqueurs. They are too well 
known to need any detailed description. The fruits of Levisticum officinale, 
Lovage, have somewhat similar properties. The fruits of Pewcedanum 
graveolens, Carum Carui, Coriandrum sativum, Pimpinella Anisum, and 
Feniculum capillaceum, as also their volatile oils, except that of Fennel, are 
official in the British Pharmacopeeia. 
Archangelica officinalis, Angelica.—The root and fruits are pungent 
aromatic stimulants and mild tonics. They are principally used in the 
preparation of gin, and the liqueur known under the name of bitters. The 
young shocts are also made with sugar into a sweetmeat or candy, which 
forms a very agreeable stomachic. The petioles were formerly blanched 
and eaten like Celery. e 
Daucus Carota var. sativa.—The roots are used in the form of a poultice, 
on account of their moderately stimulant properties. 
Eryngium campestre and EF. maritimum, Eryngo, have sweet aromatic 
roots, possessing tonic properties. 
Ferula (Euryangium) Sumbul.—The root, which is official in the British 
Pharmacopeeia, is imported into this country, by way of Russia, from 
Turkestan and Bucharia. It is also official in the Pharmacopeeia of India. 
It is commonly known as Sumbul-root, and also, from its strong musky 
smell, as Musk-root. It is a nervine stimulant, and antispasmodic. 
Hydrocotyle asiaticu.—The leaves, particularly when in a fresh state, 
are employed in India both internally and externally, in leprosy, secondary 
syphilis, &c. They are official in the Pharmacopeeia of India. Asa remedial 
agent in leprosy they excited much attention some years since in the Island 
of Mauritius, under the name of Bevilacqua. 
Meum.—M. athamanticum, Bald-money or Mew, and M. Mutellina, have 
aromatic tonic roots. 
Selinum palustre.—The root has long been popularly used in some pro- 
vinces of Russia as a remedy in epilepsy. It has also been employed in 
hooping-cough, and other nervous affections; but when tried in regular 
practice its use has not been attended with any marked success. 
8. Poisonous UMBELLIFERZ. 
The poisonous properties of these plants are due to the presence of a 
narcotico-acrid juice, and seem to vary according to the nature of the soil 
and climate, for Sir Robert Christison has ncticed that certain species which 
