Chap. 23.] 
WHITE HELLEBOEE. 
99 
off the bilious secretions and morbid humours by stool. It is 
given also in water as a gentle aperient, the proportion being 
one drachma at the very utmost, and four oboli for a moderate 
dose. Some authorities have recomended mixing scammony 
with it, but sal t is looked upon as more safe. If given in any 
considerable quantity in combination with a sweet substance, 
it is highly dangerous : used in the form of a fomentation, it 
disperses films upon the eyes ; and hence it is that some medical 
men have pounded it and used it for an eye-salve. It ripens 
and acts detergently upon scrofulous sores, suppurations, and 
indurated tumours, as also upon fistulas, but in this latter case 
it must be removed at the end of a couple of days. In com- 
bination with copper filings^'^ and sandarach, it removes warts ; 
and it is applied to the abdominal regions, with barley-meal 
and wine, in cases of dropsy. 
This plant is employed for the cure of pituitous defluxions 
in cattle and beasts of burden, a slip of it being passed 
through the ear, and removed at the same hour on the fol- 
lowing day. With frankincense also, wax, and pitch, or else 
pisselaeon,^* it is used for the cure of itch in quadrupeds. 
CHAP. 23. TWENTY-THKEE REMEDIES DEEIVED FKOM WHITE 
HELLEBORE. 
The best white hellebore is that which acts most speedily as 
a sternutatory ; but it would seem to be a much more formid- 
able^^ plant than the black kind ; more particularly if we read 
in the ancient authors the precautions used by those about 
to take it, against cold shiverings, sufi'ocation, unnatural 
drowsiness, continuous hiccup or sneezing, derangements of 
the stomach, and vomitings, either retarded or prolonged, too 
sparing dr in excess. Indeed, it was generally the practice to 
administer other substances to promote vomiting, and to carry 
off the hellebore by the aid of purgatives or clysters, while 
bleeding even was frequently had recourse to. In addition to 
all this, however successful the results may prove, the symptoms 
by which it is attended are really most alarming, by reason of 
^2 " Squama aeris." 
See a similar statement as to Consiligo, in B, xxvi. c. 21. 
See B. XV. c. 7, and B. xxiv. c. 11. 
^5 Its properties, Fee says, are not more active than those of black helle- 
bore. 
H 2 
