FOLIA CONn. 301 



substitute for the dried leaf in making the tincture. But it has been 

 shown that a tincture, whether of leaf or fruit, is a preparation of very 

 small value, and that it is far inferior to the preserved juice of the 

 herb. It has however been pointed out by W. jManlius Smith,' and 

 his observations have been confirmed by Harley," that the green unripe 

 fruits possess more than any other part the peculiar energies of the 

 plant, and that they may even be dried without loss of activity. A 

 medicinal fluid extract of considerable power has been made from them 

 by Squibb of New York. 



FOLIA CONII. 

 Hemlock Leaves ; F. Feuilles de Cigue ; G. Schierlingsbldtter. 



Botanical Origin — Gonium macidatum, L., see p. 299. 



History— See p. 299. 



Description — Hemlock in its first year produces only a tuft of 

 leaves ; but in its second a stout erect stem which often grows to the 

 height of 5 or 9 feet, is much branched in its upper part, and terminates 

 in small umbels, each having about 12 rays. The lower leaves, often a 

 foot in length, have a triangular outline, and a hollow stalk as long as 

 the lamina, clasping the stem at its base with a membranous sheath. 

 Towards the upper portion of the plant, the leaves have shorter stalks, 

 are less divided, and are opposite or in cohorts of 3 to 5. The involucral 

 bracts are lanceolate, reflexed, and about a ^ of an inch long. Those of 

 the partial umbel are turned towards the outside, and are always 3 in 

 number. The larger leaves are twice or thrice pinnate, the ultimate 

 segments being ovate-oblong, acute, and deeply incised. 



The stem is cylindrical and hollow, of a glaucous green, generally 

 mai'ked on its lower part with reddish-brown spots. The leaves are of 

 a dull dark green, and like the rest of the plant quite glabrous. They 

 have when bruised a disagreeable foetid smell. 



For medicinal purposes the plant should be taken when in full 

 blossom.* 



Chemical Composition — The leaves of hemlock contain, though 

 in exceedingly small proportion, the same alkaloids as the fruits. Geiger 

 obtained from the fresh herb not so much as one ten-thousandth part of 

 Conine. It is probable however that the active constituents vary in 

 proportion considerably, and that a dry and sunny climate promotes 

 their development. 



The same observer, as well as Pereira, has pointed out that hemlock 

 leaves when dried are very frequently almost devoid of conine, and the 

 observation is supported by the more recent experimentsofHarley (1867). 

 It has also been shown by the last-named physician, that the inspissated 

 juice known in pharmacy as Extractuni Conii usually contains but a 

 mere trace of alkaloid, the latter having in fact been dissipated by the heat 



* Trans, of the New York State Medical bud, in which state it affords far more of 

 Society for 1867. leaf than when well matured ; but it is in 



2 The old Vegetable Neurotics, Lond. 1869. the latter condition that tlie plant is to be 



* The London herbalists often coUect it preferred, 

 while much of the inflorescence is still in 



