bear's-foot. 58 



are not unfrequently employed by empirics and ignorant persons, 

 and instances are not wanting of their fatal effects. 



In the Oxford Magazine for 1769, it is related that a labour- 

 ing man gave some of this plant to his two sons, one six, 

 the other four years old, to kill worms, and in a few hours 

 they both died. It is also mentioned that those who have 

 taken a poisonous dose and recovered, have lost their hair, nails, 

 and even the epidermis of the whole body. In the London 

 Chronicle for 1768, No. 1760, we read that a child lost its life 

 from taking some of the root in the pulp of an apple. 



This being classed among the narcotico-acrid poisons requires 

 nearly the same antidotes as the Aconite, Arum, &c. In the 

 first place, vomiting must be excited and encouraged, if it has 

 not spontaneously commenced. " If the poison has been some 

 time ingested, an emetic combined with a cathartic should be 

 administered, composed of two or three grains of emetic tartar 

 and an ounce of Epsom salts. Purgative clysters ought also to 

 be administered. If apoplectic symptoms appear, bleeding or 

 the application of leeches is advisable. Acidulated drinks should 

 afterwards be employed, and especially vinegar and water in 

 small doses, frequently repeated. To combat the inflammation, 

 which almost invariably succeeds, the acidulated drinks should be 

 replaced by emollient infusions and decoctions, such as the infu- 

 sion of marsh mallows or violets, or a solution of gum arabic 

 The application of a few leeches to the abdomen may likewise 

 be serviceable." Orjila. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — The leaves of this plant 

 were used in this country as a domestic medicine for their 

 vermifuge effects long before their introduction into the London 

 Phamacopoeia. Gerard thus alludes to them : 



" The leaves of bastard Hellebor, dried in an oven, after the bread is drawne 

 out, and the powder thereof taken in a figge or raisin, or strawed upon a 

 piece of bread spread with honey, and eaten, killeth worms exceedingly." 



Dr. Bisset states, that in Yorkshire the peasantry often give it 

 to their children when they suspect them to have worms. " The 

 decoction of about a drachm of the green leaves, or about 

 fifteen grains of the dried leaves in powder, is the usual dose 

 administered to children between four and seven years of age. 

 A full or sufficient dose generally proves more or less emetic, 

 and often loosens the belly a little. It is usually repeated on 



