NAT. ORDER. RANUNCULACEjE. 
19 
land, where it was first discovered, but is found growing wild in 
the northern parts of the United States and the Canadas. 
Medical Properties and Uses. The Helleborus niger, though 
constantly used in medicine since the time of Hippocrates, was 
the only species of Hellebore known in the Materia Medica of the 
pharmacopaeias, till the late introduction of this plant by the Lon- 
don College, probably upon the authority of Dr. Bisset, who re- 
commends the leaves as possessing extraordinary anthelminthic 
powers. The smell of the recent plant is extremely foetid, and 
the taste is bitter and remarkably acrid, insomuch that when 
chewed it excoriates the mouth and fauces; it usually operates 
as a carthartic, but sometimes as an emetic, and, in large doses, 
proves highly deleterious. The leaves are the only part noticed 
by the London College, which have been long domestically em- 
ployed in that country, mostly for their vermifuge effects ; and are 
thus spoken of by Gerard : " The leaves of the Bear's-foot Helle- 
bore is by far the most powerful vermifuge for long round worms 
of any I have yet experienced. The anthelminthic virtue of this 
plant is well known to some of the lower classes of England, who 
generally give it to their children when they suspect them to have 
worms. The decoction of the green leaves, taken in quantities of 
about a drachm, or fifteen grains of the dried leaves taken in pow- 
der, is the usual dose administered to children from four to seven 
years of age : a full or sufficient dose generally proves more or 
less emetic, and operates as a cathartic. It is usually repeated on 
two, and sometimes three successive mornings. The second dose 
proves more serviceable than the first, and never fails to expel 
round worms by stool, should they be lodged in the alimentary 
tube." 
I have had an opportunity of witnessing the effects of this 
medicine in two cases, where it was repeated three times, proving 
successful in both, by expelling worms. An eminent physician, 
late from Germany, informs me, that this is their great remedy for 
