f 473 3 



particularly remembers that it never once purged 

 him j not even the firft dofe, which had To nearly 

 poifoned him. He does not think that it increafed 

 the fenfible perfpiration, but is convinced that it was 

 diuretick ; and adds, that he thinks it occafioned, 

 befides the increafed flow of urine, a copious fedi- 

 ment in it, and which he believes was always want- 

 ing before. 



This is the plain, narrative of the fact. He has 

 afTured me that no medicine or regimen, among the 

 great variety that he has tried, ever had any fenfi- 

 ble effect upon his diforder before ; and that nothing 

 but the very early and fenfible relief he experienced 

 from this juice, could have induced him to perfevere 

 in its ufe, under fuch uneafy feelings, as it never 

 failed to produce. Indeed, he makes nothing of 

 the lighter effects of the infufion, from which, 

 however, he thinks, he has likewife reaped no fmall 

 benefit. 



This cafe, the nature and inveteracy of his dif- 

 order, being well known among his neighbours, 

 was much talked of, and raifed the curiofity of many 

 people. When I firft heard of it, and was inform- 

 ed of the fmallnefs of the dofe, and its virulent 

 operation, I could fcarce doubt that the juice of 

 fome other plant had been adminiftered inftead of 

 that of the water parfnep, which we know to be a 

 fafe and harmlefs vegetable ; medical writers having 

 directed its juice to be drunk, even to the quantity of 

 four ounces for a dofe : and as I know, the Qenanthe 

 crocata, hemlock droowort, to be exceedingly plen- 

 tiful in this country, fo much, as to be more eaiiiy 

 procured than the water parfnep itfelfj I thought it 

 Vol. LXII. P p p probable 



