50 Medical Botany. 
violet upon the out side, and as whitish and mealy within, 
without any smell or taste. The second he calls malignant, 
and affirms, that it is externally dark violet, blue, or black- 
ish; and internally of a bluish grey colour, a fetid smell and 
a sharp pungent taste. 
He supposes the latter to be active upon the human sys- 
tem, and the former inert. 
From the best chemical analysis it appears that this arti- 
cle contains 
First. A pale or fawn yellow-colouring matter, soluble in 
alcohol, and tasting like fish-oil. 
Second. A white oily matter, of a sweetish taste, which 
is very abundant. 
Third. A violet colouring matter, of the same shade as 
orchil, but differing from it, by betag insoluble in alcohol, 
and easily applicable, to aluminated wool, and silk. 
Fourth. An acid, probably the Phosphoric. 
Fifth. A vegeto-animal matter, very abundant, and prone 
to putrefaction, yielding much thick oil, and ammonia, by 
distillation. 
Sixth. A small quantity of free ammonia, which can be 
obtained at the temperature of boiling water. 
This article, when taken in substance into the stomach, 
in moderately large doses, occasions nausea; and even a 
scruple, or a drachm, has produced vomiting, but without 
quickening the peristaltic motion of the alimentary canal. 
Very large quantities have Crean’ head-ache, and tem- 
porary febrile symptoms. 
Its most prominent effect tare is its direct action up- 
on the wterus, producing and increasing contractions, when 
there is a predisposition to action, in that organ, and re- 
storing the catamenial secretion, when obstructed. It must 
therefore be ranked in the Materia-medica as a Partus- 
accelerator, and as an Emmenagogue. 
The cases in which it is indicated as a Partus-accelerator, 
are— 
First. In the early stages of pregnancy, when abortion 
has become inevitable, uterine contractions are feeble, and 
heemorrhage considerable, so that it has become important 
to abridge ‘the sufferings, and lessen the danger of the pa- 
tient. 
Second. In cases of alarming hoemorrhage, near the close 
of the period of utero-gestation, not occasioned by attach- 
