26 A Treatise on 
dilation; and though it be volatile, and alka- 
line, yet it is fo involved in Sulphur, that it 
produces no Change, either in the TinCture of 
Turnfole, or the Solution of Sublimate. Laftly, 
if the Diftillation be urged at the Beginning by a 
flronge Fire, there arifes, inftead of the acrid Spi- 
rit, a coagulated Compound confifting of the fame 
Principles. 
But the purgative Quality of Hellebore is not 
to be attributed either to the acid or alkaline Salt 
alone, or to the Sulphur, but to all thefe together 
as they naturally exift in the mixt Body : For as 
much as an Extract from the Roots with Spirit of 
Wine is not in the leaft Degree cathartick : neither 
is a fecond Extra# made with Rain-Water from the 
Refiduum of the former. Whereas an Extra#, which 
is drawn out firft with Water, polfelfes all the Vir- 
tues of the Root ; for the Water diflolves both 
the alkaline and tartarous Salts, and afterwards, by 
the Affiftance of thofe Salt, divides and takes up 
the fulphureous Parts. 
White Hellebore is cathartick and emetick, but 
extremely violent in its Operation, producing great 
Uneaknefs and Anxiety ; and is therefore never 
given inwardly in the prefent Practice. Even the 
Powder being only put into Ifiues purges the Belly 
with great Vehemence. The Ancients fometimes 
ventured to give it, though never but in defperate 
Cafes, when they found all other Medicines inef- 
fectual. Externally it is accounted good in the 
Itch and other cutaneous FoulnefTes, and is a pow- 
erful Sternutatory in ileepy Affe&ions. 
Black Hellebore was very commonly ufed as a 
Cathartick among the Ancients. They reckoned 
it an efficacious Medicine in Madnefs and Melan- 
choly, as alfo in Epilepfies, Apoplexies, Palfies, 
the Gout, Elephant iafiS) quartan Fevers, and in alj 
Difeafes 
