NAT. ORDER.— LILIACEiE. 
109 
some are purple, of two different tints ; others are white and yel- 
low. They are said to grow naturally in Hungary and Italy. 
They ai-e propagated by offsets from their roots, and thrive best 
in a shady situation, and a gentle loamy soil ; but should not be 
too often removed. They may be transplanted any time after the 
beginning of June, when their leaves will be quite decayed, till the 
middle of September ; but the roots should not be kept very long 
out of the ground, as, if they shrink, it will often cause them to 
rot. The roots of this plant should not be planted scattering 
in the borders of the flower-garden, but in patches near each 
other, where they will make a good appearance. — U. S. Dispen- 
satory. 
Medical Properties and Uses. This is a very ancient medi- 
cine, and was used in the time of Salmond to a considerable ex- 
tent. The physicians of Europe employed it in those days for 
the cure of all venereal complaints, and as a remedy for worms. 
They obtained a strong decoction from the leaves and powdered 
root, after the following manner : take four ounces of the leaves, 
well dried ; or two of the root, powdered ; and add two quarts 
diluted alcohol; macerate for fourteen days; filter, when it is 
ready for use. The U. S. Dispensatory recommends giving it in 
doses of twenty or thirty grains, and says, " the recent bulb acts 
as an emetic ; the leaves are said to be more powerful ; and that 
the activity of the plant is diminished very much by drying." 
So far as we at present are acquainted with the virtues and uses 
of this plant, we are inclined to consider it a useless addition to 
the Materia Medica. It is however adopted in the present U. S. 
Dispensatory, but not very highly recommended in practice. A 
gentleman with whom I am well acquainted, informed me that he 
has frequently used the Erythronium in connection with other 
medicines, with decided advantage in rheumatism and gout ; and 
advises that it be applied externally, and well rubbed in, so as to 
produce considerable friction. 
