130 MEZEREON. 



of Mezereon, formerly called cocci gnidii, are too virulent to be 

 used medicinally, at least in their natural state. Pallas * how- 

 ever, informs us, that the peasants of Siberia swallow a number 

 of them as a common purgative ; Villars -j- observed the same 

 in Dauphiny, and he adds, mothers do not hesitate to give them 

 to their children in convulsive cough, in order to produce 

 vomiting. Whatever may be the effects of such a dose on the 

 obtuse sensibilities of these hardy mountaineers, there could be 

 no surer poison to the natives of this country. An ointment 

 made of the berries is also employed in the north of Europe, 

 against foul ulcers, chancres, and cancer. 



The dose of the bark is from two to ten grains, but it is sel- 

 dom given in substance. 



The decoction is prepared thus : — 



DECOCTION OF MEZEREON J. 



Take of Bark of Mezereon root two drachms ; 



Liquorice root, bruised half an ounce ; 



Water three pounds. 



Boil with a gentle fire down to two pounds, and strain. 



The dose is from four to six ounces, three or four times a 

 day. 



The London College orders a compound decoction of Sarsa- 

 parilla, in imitation of the celebrated Lisbon diet drink, contain- 

 ing the Mezereon bark as the primary ingredient, but in too 

 small a proportion. Van Mons § directs a compound decoction 

 of Mezereon, containing Mezereon bark, twigs of Bitter-sweet, 

 and Burdock root, sweetened with Liquorice root ; and we con- 

 ceive that such a combination may prove useful in some of the 

 above-mentioned diseases. 



resides in the bark only, the woody fibre being nearly inert."— Dr. 

 Thomson. 



* Reisen. I. c. 



t Plantes de Dauphine, vol. i. pre/. 



$ Decoctum Daphnes Mezerei Pharm. Ed. et Dubl. 



§ Pharmacopee usuelle, &c— Louvain, 1821. 



