Foreion Vegetables, 27 
acrid Tafte, which coagulates a Solution of Subli- 
mate; afterwards an acid corrofive Liquor, and 
then a volatile concreted Salt and Oil. But the 
Quantity of Earth remaining is equal in Weight 
£0 a third Part of the Roots. Moreover, by the 
Juice of white Hellebore the Colour of blue Paper 
is rendered more lively, in the fame Manner as 
when the Paper is dipped in Lime-Water. 
Five Pounds of the Fibres of black Hellebcre- 
Root yielded eight Ounces of greenilh Liquor of 
a very acrid Tafte ; but it produced no Change 
in the Tin&ure of Turnfole, or the Solution of 
Sublimate. After this came over into the Receiver 
two Pounds, twelves Ounces, and fix Drachms of 
Liquor, which by Degrees loft its green Colour 
and became more limpid ; and was like wife depriv- 
ed of its acrid Tafte, acquiring one that was acid 
and ftyptick. This Liquor turned the Tin&ure of 
Turnfole not only purple, but even to the Colour 
of Fire. The laft four Ounces which came pver, 
raifed an EfFervefcence with Spirit of Salt, and pre- 
cipitated the Solution of Sublimate, The foetid 
Oil weighed an Ounce and half, and the Caput 
mortuum ten Ounces ; in which were fix Drachms 
of fixt Salt, and two Ounces, one Drachm, of 
terra damnata. Further, blue Paper, by being dip- 
ped in an Infulion pf this Root, is not rendered 
more lively in its Colour, but on the contrary 
more obfcure, inclining to the Colour of a Violet. 
Hence it appears, that an alkaline Salt prevails 
in the Root of white Hellebore; which, on the 
other Hand, in the Root of (alack Hellebore, i$ 
fubdued by an Acid, Moreover it appears, that 
the Root of black Hellebore contains a Kind of fa- 
lino-fulphureous Spirit, fuch as is produced by 
mixing re&ified Spirit of Wine with volatile Spirit 
of Sal Ammoniac. This Spirit arifes the fiFft in Dif- 
tillation; 
