644 MEDICAL BOTANY. 



ii. -k#3 ; Worthington, Am. Jour. Pharm. N. S. iv. 89 ; Veratrum album, . 

 Mfpiaux, Fl. Bot. Am. ii. 249 ; Helonias viridis, Bot. Mag. 1096. 

 Qpmmon Names. — Swamp Hellebore; Indian Poke ; Itch Weed. 



Thu^plant is a native of many parts of the United States, usually growing 

 in danjgfr. meadows. It flowers from May to July. The foot is officinal in 

 the National Pharmacopoeia. It consists of a tunicated top, with a thick 

 fleshy base, having numerous radicles attached. In a fresh state it has a 

 disagreeable fetid odour, which disappears on desiccation. The*'taste is at 

 first sweetish, afterwards bitter, followed by an acrid pungent sensation, which 

 persists for some time. It has been examined by Dr. Osgood {Am. Jour,. 

 Med. Sci.), Mr. Marshall (Am. Jam:. Pharm. N. S. iii.), and by Mr. 

 Worthington (/. c.) The latter, who' made a full analysis of it, found 

 Veratria, Gallic Acid, Extractive, &c\ 



It was known to the Indians as a poison, and was employed by them, ac- 

 cording to Joscelin (Travels), in the election of their chiefs; the individual 

 whose stomach was least susceptible to its deleterious effects was regarded 

 as the " strongest of the party, and entitled to command the rest." In some 

 parts of the country it is known as Crow Poison ; corn saturated with a de- 

 coction of the root being scattered over the fields of new-planted Maize, these 

 stupefy the crows if they feed upon them, to such a degree as to prevent their 

 escape for some time. It has generally been asserted that the properties of 

 the American are similar to those of the European plant, and judging from 

 the analogy of the botanical and chemical characters of the two, this suppo- 

 sition would appear to be well founded ; but the experiments and observa- 

 tions of Dr. Osgood and others show that such is not the case. He states 

 that it never acts as a cathartic, and is perfectly certain in its operation, and 

 is in all respects analogous to Colchicum in its powers, and ought to super- 

 sede it in practice. 



Medical Uses. — Dr. Tully states that it is a deobstruent or alterative, an 

 acrid narcotic, an emetic, an epispastic and an errhine. It has been found 

 very useful in gout, rheumatism, diseases of the lungs, and some complaints of 

 the bowels; and externally in the form of ointment in many cutaneous affec- 

 tions. From the evidence of Drs. Tully, Osgood, Ware and others, it is 

 evident that it is a most important addition to the Materia Medica, and one 

 that deserves the attention of the profession. The best forms of administra- 

 tion are the tincture and extract. The dose of the first is about thirty drops, 

 and of the latter one-third of a grain, gradually increasing, until some effect 

 is induced. (See Dr. Osgood's observations, Am. Jour. Med. Sci. 1835, 

 and Amer. Jour. Pharm. N. S. i. 202.) 



There are several other species of this genus found in this country, as V. 

 parviftorum and angustifolium, which are probably active, and should be 

 examined. 



Colchicum. — Linn. 



Perianth coloured, infundibuiiform, with a long, subterranean slender tube, and a 

 somewhat campanulate, 6-partcd limb. Stamens 6, inserted on the throat of the tube. 

 Ovary 3-celled ; ovules numerous in 2 — 3 rows ; styles 3, filiform, long ; stigmas some- 

 what clavate. Capsule 3-celled, partible in 3, with an internal dehiscence. Seeds 

 roundish, numerous, with a corrugated testa, 



A small genus of bulbous-rooted herbaceous plants, found in Europe and 

 Central Asia, the species of which have long been employed in medicine. 

 They all appear to be active, and to be very analogous in their action. One 

 only is officinal. 



