HELLEBORK. 383 



Home* and Pasta f, it sometimes proves beneficial in plethoric 

 habits. It has also been found useful in hemorrhoids ;J;, and 

 obstinate quartan fevers §, but more especially in dropsies 1| and 

 some cutaneous diseases^. Quincy recommends it in gout and 

 rheumatism**, and it has also been given in epilepsy, paralysis, 

 and against worms. Mr. Waller f-f has the following observa- 

 tions on the effect of Hellebore root as an errhine. 



" In the depot for French prisoners of war at Norman Cross, in the year 

 1806, a peculiar disease, called Nyctalopia, was very prevalent among them. 

 The symptoms which distinguish this disease are, that the patient becomes 

 by degrees perfectly blind from the moment of sunset till the re-appearance 

 of the bright luminary next morning. This disease affected a great number 

 of the prisoners, who were obliged to be led about by their comrades im- 

 mediately after sunset, and all of them at the same time were labouring 

 under symptoms of extreme dyspepsia. After a variety of treatment inef- 

 fectually applied, the powder of black Hellebore was given them as a snuff. 

 As they were most of them attached to the use of snuff, and had been for a 

 long time deprived of it, they took the Hellebore with avidity, and generally 

 recovered from their nyctalopia in the course of a very few days, and the 

 dyspeptic symptoms were at the same time greatly relieved. There is no 

 doubt that in many other affections of the head the same treatment would 

 be found extremely efficacious, and is well worthy of trial in many chronic 

 diseases of the eyes, particularly in the early stage oi gutta serena.'''' 



Bacher's hydragogue tonic pills, a celebrated remedy in 

 dropsy, w^ere composed of extract of black Hellebore ;j: J one 

 ovince ; myrrh, one ounce ; powdered leaves of blessed thistle, ten 

 scruples ; to be made into pills of one grain, of which from ten 

 to twenty were directed to be taken in the day. 



* CHnic. Exper. &c. p. 410. 



•f Dissertaz. mediche sopra i mestrui delle Donne, p. 192. 



% Schulzius, Mat. Med. p. 151. 



§ Hildanus Opera, p. 914. 



11 Friend observes, " According to Micenna, it provokes urine and the 

 menses. I have made frequent trials of this medicine, and in dropsies I 

 have seen most wonderful effects from it. Menzoar asserts that the flowers 

 of the Water Lily are the best correctors of this root." Hist. vol. ii. p. 102, 

 sqq. See also Gesner Libell. p. 121. Klein Sel. Med. p. 108. 



^ Aretaeus (Opera ed Boerh. p. 136.) Celsus (ed. Lee, vol. i. p. 232.) 

 Haller Collect. Disp. Pract. t. vi. p. 83. Hildanus Op. /. c. 



*• Pharm. p. 183. 



fH- Brit. Dom. Herb. p. 189. 



++ For the mode of preparing this extract, according to Bacher's method, 

 see Jourdan's Pharaiacopee Universelle, torn. i. p. 491. 



