HELLEBORE. 381 



nearly all passes over in distillation with water, and the root 

 may be almost deprived of its acrimony by successive decoc- 

 tions. Alcohol also extracts its virtues, which would hence 

 appear to depend on its resinous part. Feneulle and Capron* 

 have discovered in it volatile oil, containing an acid, resin, an 

 acrid and bitter principle, mucus, &c. 



Poisonous Properties. — Black Hellebore, incautiously given, pro- 

 duces upon the animal system all the effects of a violent acrid poison, com- 

 bined with some narcotic effects. Orfila found that two or three drachms 

 of the root swallowed, kiUed a dog in a few hours ; and a smaller quantity 

 applied to a wound, produced the same effect more speedily. A decoction of 

 an ounce of the root in water, caused death in eight hours. Schlabel relates 

 that ten grains of the extract introduced into the windpipe, killed a rabbit 

 in six minutes. The chief symptoms were violent efforts to vomit, giddiness, 

 palsy of the hind legs, and insensibility. 



The bulletins of the Medical Society of Emulation, mention two charac- 

 teristic cases which arose from the ignorance of a quack doctor. Both 

 persons, after taking a decoction of the root, were seized in forty-five 

 minutes with vomiting, then with delirium, and afterwards with violent 

 convulsions. One died in two hours and a half, the other in less than two 

 hours. IMorgagni has related a case which proved fatal in about sixteen 

 hours, the leading symptoms of which were pain in the stomach and 

 vomiting. The dose in this instance was only half a drachm of the extract. 

 The morbid appearances were inflammation of the digestive canal, parti- 

 cularly in the great intestines. In a case, not fatal, related by Dr. 

 Fahrenhorst, the symptoms were those of irritant poisoning generally, that 

 is, burning pain in the stomach and throat, violent vomiting, to the extent of 

 sixty times in the first two hours, cramps of the limbs, and cold sweats. 

 The most material symptoms were at this time quickly subdued by sinapisms 

 to the belly and anodyne demulcents given internally, and in four days the 

 patient was well f . 



For the treatment of poisoning by this vegetable, see the 

 articles Aconite, Bear's-foot, Colchicum, &c. Orfila particularly 

 recommends, to combat the stupefaction produced by Hellebore, 

 infusions of coffee and camphor, in small doses frequently re- 

 peated, and if these be rejected a short time after they are 

 swallowed, the same remedies should be employed in lavements 

 and by friction. Demulcent drinks are also proper. 



Medical Properties and Uses. —The root of Hellebore has 

 been famous from time immemorial, as a remedy for insanity. 



* Joui'nal de Pharmacie, vii. p. 663. 

 ■f Christison on Poisons, 3d Ed. p. 786. 



