290 FLORA DOMESTICA. 



The real virulence of the Aconite has been proved by 

 fatal experience. Some persons/ only by smelling the full- 

 blown flower, are said to have been seized with swooning 

 fits, and to have lost their sight for two or three days. 

 The root is the most powerful part of the plant ; and a 

 criminal has been put to death by being made to swallow 

 one drachm of it. Dodonaeus mentions an instance, recent 

 in his time, of five persons at Antwerp who ate of the 

 root by mistake, and all died. Instances have also been 

 recorded of persons who have died from eating of this 

 in a salad, instead of celery ; and some experiments upon 

 animals have been made with it, which are too horrible to 

 repeat. 



Yet, when used with skill and caution, this plant has 

 been found in some cases a useful medicine. Those with 

 blue flowers are considered as the most powerful. 



There is a species called the Wholesome Aconite in 

 French, maclou which has been recommended as an an- 

 tidote to the poisonous kinds. This, however, is poisonous, 

 though not so powerfully so as the others. All the kinds 

 have rather deep roots, which render them unfit for grow- 

 ing in pots. They are here mentioned rather to speak of 

 their dangerous tendency than to recommend their increase. 



MOTHERWORT. 



LEONURUS. 



LABIATE. DIDYNAMIA GYMNOSPERMIA . 



The common kind is called in French., 1'agripaume ; la cordiale. 

 Italian, agripalma ; cardiaca. 



THE Common Motherwort, and the Curled, when the 

 seeds are once sown in the spring, require no further care 

 than occasionally to water them, and to keep them clear 



