872 



to be diuretic, emmenagogue, &c. Rafinesque says the Sium latifo- 

 lium is certainly poisonous. 



13. Smyrnium. Nine species known ; 5, 2, L. 



Smyrnium aureum. Meadow parsnep ; by many called cow 

 parsnep ; Alexanders. A warm debate has been carried on in the 

 Boston Medical Journal, between Dr. Oliver Partridge and Dr. 

 James Thacher, both over eighty years of age, whether this is the 

 genuine cow parsnep, or whether the Heracleum lanatum, or master- 

 wort, is not the cow parsnep. The former maintaining that the Smyr- 

 nium is the true cow parsnep, and the latter that the Heracleum is the 

 genuine cow parsnep. "We are too apt to be led astray by English 

 names. Dr. Partridge is still living at Stockbridge, Mass., in the 

 ninety-sixth year of his age. Dr. Thacher died at Plymouth, two or 

 three years ago, over eighty years of age. After reading the de- 

 bate, I leave it to my brethren to decide which is correct. Dr. 

 Partridge has used the Smyrnium successfully in cases of epilepsy, 

 while the late Dr. Orne, of Salem, has also used the Heracleum with 

 success in this terrific disease. The Smyrnium is a warm, stimu- 

 lating aromatic. 



14. Apium. Two species known ; 5, 2, L. 



Apium graveolens. Celery, and wild celery. This plant grows 

 wild in Massachusetts. It is stimulant, diuretic, and diaphoretic. 

 It is used much, and successfully, in cases of strangury, gravel, &c. 



ORDER 3. RANUNCULACE.E, OK CROW-FOOT TRIBE. 



15. Hydrastis. One species known; 13, 13, L. 



Eydrastis Qanadensis. Yellow puccoon ; golden seal ; yellow 

 eye-bright ; yellow root ; Indian paint ; ground raspberry. This 

 is a very celebrated remedy with empirics, and, I believe, with the 

 Thompsonians and steamers. The root is the part employed, which 

 is very bitter, pungent, and nauseous. It is put down in the Second- 

 ary List of articles in Wood and Bache, and, I believe, in the U. S. 

 Pharm. Rafinesque speaks of it as a tonic, detergent, and ophthal- 

 mic. It is in high reputation in Kentucky and Ohio for affections 

 of the eyes. The Indians use it for ulcerated legs, and other local 

 complaints. It is employed as a tonic internally, in infusion or 

 tincture, in affections of the liver and stomach. This plant appears 

 to be slightly narcotic. It is used in aphthous ulcerations. It de- 

 serves scientific investigation. 



