875 



29. Delphinium. Sixteen species known ; 13, 8, L. 

 Delphinium consolidum. Larkspur. Sec. U. S. P. This plant is 



supposed to possess the properties of delphinium staphisagria, which 

 has been much employed in medicine. It has been thought to pos- 

 sess the power of healing or consolidating wounds ; hence the name 

 consolida. The seeds are acrid and diuretic, and produce vomit- 

 ing and purging. A tincture, prepared by infusing an ounce of the 

 seeds in a pint of alcohol, has been of service in spasmodic asthma, 

 and in dropsy, in the dose of ten drops, gradually increasing until 

 the system is affected. This tincture kills lice on the human head. 



30. Aconitum. On the authority of Dewey, I place this among 

 the indigenous plants of Massachusetts. Sixteen species known; 

 18, 2, L. 



Aconitum napellus. "Wolf's-bane. Off. Schoepf says this plant 

 grows in Virginia. It is a most powerful narcotic, for the proper- 

 ties of which I refer to Wood and Bache, U. S. Pharm., Orfila, and 

 other standard writers. 



31. Nigella. Five species known ; 13, 5, L. 



Nigella damascena. Fennel flower. Sec. It is used in medicine 

 merely as an aromatic. 



32. Cratsegus. Nine species known ; 12, 2, L. 



Cratsegus coccinea. Thorn-bush. Fruit red or yellow, acid or 

 sweetish. They are made into preserves, which are stomachic, anti- 

 emetic, and good against diarrhoea. The leaves and flowers are 

 pectoral, and used in hooping and other coughs. 



ORDER 4. PAPAVERACE.E. 



33. Chelidonium. Six species known ; 13, 1, L. 

 Ohelidonium majus. Celandine. Sec. This plant is acrid and 



pungent, diuretic, diaphoretic, and expectorant. Formerly much 

 used for the cure of warts and herpetic eruptions. Much was said 

 of it formerly as being famous for the cure of syphilis. But little 

 dependence is now placed upon it in this affection. 



34. Sanguinaria. One species known ; 13, 1, L. 

 Sanguinaria Canadensis. Blood-root ; puccoon, &c. Off. 



Most elaborate treatises have been written upon this most valua- 

 ble plant by all writers upon botany and medical botany, and many 



