86 



MEDICAL BOTANY. 



Fig. 52. 



and England in mild seasons it flowers in the winter, whence its name of 

 Christmas rose. It is described by the earlier writers on drugs, under the 

 name of Melampodium, from an idea that it was identical with the cele- 

 brated remedy in mental affections, so highly praised by the Greek phy- 

 sicians; the observations of Tournefort and Sibthorp, however, have clearly 

 demonstrated that the Melampodium of the ancients is a distinct species, the 

 H. orientalis. 



The fibres of the root, which are the parts employed in medicine, as found 

 in'the shops, are of a black colour, with a disagreeable smell, and a bitterish, 

 nauseous, acrid taste. When fresh they are extremely powerful. Grew 

 says of them : "The root being chewed, and for some time retained upon the 

 tongue, after a few minutes it seemeth to be benumbed and affected with a 

 kind of paralytic stupour ; or as when it hath been a little burnt with eating 

 and supping any thing too hot." This acrimony is much diminished by 

 drying. From the analysis of MM. Fenuelle and Capron, it would appear 

 that these roots contain no alkaloid, but that their powers depend on a re- 

 sinous matter and volatile acid somewhat like the cevadic; to the latter 

 is probably owing the acrid properties of the fresh root, whilst its purga- 

 tive qualities may be attributable to the resin, as it has been found that 

 alcohol extracts its virtues most effectually. 



Medical Uses. — At one period, no medicine enjoyed a higher reputation 



than the Black Hellebore as a hydra- 

 gogue purgative and emmenagogue. It 

 was highly extolled by all the early 

 writers on medicine, in mania, dropsy, 

 cutaneous affections and worms, and 

 was supposed to exercise a peculiar 

 influence on the uterus. It formed the 

 basis of Bacher's pills, so celebrated 

 in the treatment of dropsy, the receipt 

 for which was purchased at a high 

 price by the French government, but 

 like many other nostrums have 

 been forgotten and despised, in the 

 rage for others of quite as doubtful 

 efficacy. The use of the Hellebore 

 is now very limited, being seldom 

 given except as an emmenagogue by 

 some practitioners, «who still place 

 much faith in its powers. 



The dose of the powdered root is 

 from 10 to 20 grains as a purgative; 

 of the decoction a fluid ounce three or 

 four times a day till it operates ; of the 

 extract from 3 to 10 grains; and of the 

 tincture twenty to sixty drops. 

 Several other species of Hellebore are considered as officinal, among which 

 may be noticed the H. faitidus, included in the secondary list of the U. S. 

 Pharmacopoeia. This is a perennial species indigenous in most parts of 

 Europe, in pastures and thickets, most plentifully in a calcareous soil. It has 

 an offensive odour, and is possessed of highly energetic and poisonous quali- 

 ties, being even more powerful than the last-mentioned species. It has long 

 been used in England as a popular remedy for worms, but some years since 

 was brought to the notice of the profession by Dr. Bisset, as an almost in- 



H. orientalis. 1. Sepal with attached petals. 

 2. Pistils with stamen and petal. 



