1(30 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1740. 



As it appears, from what has been said, that the oenaiithe of Lobel, and ci- 

 cuta aquatica of Wepfer, had not been sufficiently distinguished by medical 

 writers hitherto, Mr. W. hoped he should stand excused for making a few ob- 

 servations on this last. This, though a plant frequently met with on the conti- 

 nent, and very well described by botanical writers, is seldom found near London ; 

 •but it grows in many parts of England by the sides of large standing pools, and 

 near the banks of fens. He was informed by Robert More, esq. an excellent 

 botanist, and a very worthy member of the R. S., that it grows plentifully in 

 many parts of Shropshire. He had received it from Dr. Wilmer, who gathered 

 it by the sides of the river Colne, not far from Uxbridge. It is mentioned by 

 Mr. Ray as growing near Brereton mere in Cheshire, and in several other places. 

 It is mentioned by Gesner * ; and Wepfer, in his history of it, has given 4 tables 

 of different parts sufficiently accurate. It is figured and described by John 

 Bauhin -f-. Lobel's Icon. 208, relates to this plant. Dodonaeus's figure, which 

 is not a bad one for the time, is copied both by Gerard and Parkinson. Mor- 

 rison has given 2 figures of it, one in his general history, the other in his book 

 de Umbelliferis, though under different names. But the most elegant and de- 

 scriptive figures are those of the Hortus Eystettensis and Rivinus. As the sy- 

 nonyma of this plant are very many, and very different, Mr. W. has inserted 

 them at the bottom of the page. :{: 



Though the medical writers have not sufficiently distinguished these plants, the 

 botanists have. These, indeed, in their turns, have been as negligent, when 

 writing concerning their uses. 



The instances mentioned in these papers are but too sufficient testimonies of 

 the malignant properties of this plant ; but Mr. Miller informed Mr. W. fur- 

 ther, that not many years since, a whole family were poisoned with it at Batter- 

 sea. As this plant is frequent so near us, and as its appearance and smell are so 

 like smallage and celery, we are greatly interested that the knowledge of it be 

 extended as much as possible. As he found no good representation of it among 

 authors, and as a good figure conveys a stronger idea to the generality of readers 

 than the most accurate description, he procured that admirable artist Mr. 



viroso, cicutae facie Lobellii. J. B. III. p. 193; oenanthe, chaerophylli foliis. C. B. P. l62; filipen- 

 dula, cicutae facie. Ger. Eraac. 1057; oenanthe, cicutae facie Lobellii Park. 894; oenanthe maxima 

 wicco viroso, cicutae facie. Morris. Hist. Sect. 9, tab. 9 ; oenanthe, foliis omnibus multifidis obtusis, 

 fere aequalibus. Hort. Cliff. 99. Royen. 107. 



The oenanthe of Lobel is called in English wild parsley by Gerard and Hemlock Dropwort. — Orig.. 

 It is the oenanthe crocata Linn. 



•Gesner, Hort. 254. — Orig. +J. Bauhin, iii. p. 175. — Orig. 



i The cicuta aquatica of Wepfer is called in English long-leaved water cresses by G. Gerard, very 

 injudiciously, and water parsnip with narrow leaves by Parkinson j but much better by Mr. Ray,, 

 long-leaved water-hemlock. — Orig. It is the cicuta virosa Linn. 



