MONK'S HOOD. 191 



injected into the rectum of a cat. Three minutes after- 

 wards, he voided what appeared to be nearly the whole of 

 the injection. He then stood some minutes perfectly mo- 

 tionless, with his legs drawn together ; at the end of nine 

 minutes from the time of the injection he retched and 

 vomited ; then attempted to walk, but faltered and fell at 

 every step, as if from giddiness. At the end of thirteen 

 minutes, he lay on his side insensible and motionless, ex- 

 cept some slight convulsive motions of the limbs ; the 

 respiration now became slow and labored, and at forty-seven 

 minutes from the time of the injection he was apparently 

 dead ; but the heart was found regularly contracting one 

 minute and a half afterwards, at the rate of one hundred 

 times in the minute, from which it would seem that the 

 brain is not directly necessary to the action of the heart, 

 and when that action ceases, it is rather in consequence of 

 the cessation of respiration, which is evident under the in- 

 fluence of the brain." 



A. versicolor is another variety much cultivated ; flowers 

 smooth, variegated ; helmet low ; subconical, and growing 

 about two feet high, very firm in appearance, branching 

 and forming a fine pyramid. It is a native of Switzerland. 

 It is increased by tubers at the root, which it produces 

 freely. 



A. pyramidale, flowers blue ; the spur capitate ; helmet 

 closed. It bears a spike of flowers two feet high, and is 

 the most common. It flowers in May, and makes a pretty 

 appearance at that season. This species is also a deadly 

 poison, and therefore ought not to be cultivated unless great 

 caution is used. It is increased by dividing the roots. 



A. venustum is a distinct variety from all others. The 



