46 OBSERVATIONS on 



itloft terrible complaints to which the human 

 body is fubjecS, it has been in common ufe 

 in every part of Europe ; and when we con- 

 fider the great extent, and almoft univer fality 

 of its application, iii every chronic difeafe 

 which had withftood the operation of other 

 remedies, it appears furprifing that we have 

 not heard of a fingle inftance of its poifonous 

 efTedts. It has been given by the regular 

 phylician, as well as the apothecary's appren- 

 tice, in large dofes, in the forms of extradt, 

 powder, juice ; and it has been applied ex- 

 ternally in cataplafms, fomentations, baths, 

 and injections. It has been very liberally admi- 

 niftered to men, women, and children, with 

 impunity. Either our hemlock muft be 

 milder than that defcribed by authors, or, 

 which is much more probable, quite a dif- 

 ferent plant. 



Cardan us * mentions a man who was 

 killed by eating a cake wherein hemlock was 

 an ingredient : and Braffavola affures us, that 

 it is mortal not only to men, but alfo to geefe 

 and fwine. Inftances of the deleterious effeds 



* Phil. Tranf. N* 473. 



of 



