Scutellaria lateriflora. 81 



the power of preventing and curing hydrophobia. Nothing, however, 

 could be more vain or illusory than the expectation of accomplish- 

 ing by it either of these desirable objects, and considered in reference 

 to these ends, it is utterly worthless. For the reasons which justify 

 this assertion, the reader is referred to my essay on this subject 

 published in the February number of the Philadelphia Journal of the 

 Medical and Physical Sciences. By the facts there stated, it will 

 appear, that the boasted prophylactic and curative virtues of this 

 plant, in relation to tire violent disease of hydrophobia, had their 

 origin many years ago, in charlatanical practice. And notwithstand- 

 ing the strenuous efforts which have been made to win professional 

 confidence in its reputation, very few educated physicians have been 

 seduced into so dangerous a delusion. Indeed, only two physicians, 

 well known to the members of the profession as being highly re- 

 spectable, have published any thing of importance in favour of the 

 plant. One of these, the author of a pamphlet published in New 

 York in October, 1819, containing such an exposition of the sub- 

 ject, as justified the opinion, that he himself believed in its re- 

 puted virtues, has, since its publication, declared, peremptorily, his 

 entire disbelief in its preventive or curative efficacy. Hence his pub- 

 lication is nugatory. The other, a respectable compiler of a dispensa- 

 tory, has, unfortunately for the interests of medicine, and inconsist- 

 ently with his professional standing, afforded the authority of his 

 name and credence, to the preposterous story. It cannot be doubt- 

 vol. i. 22 



