[ 7 6 3 
therefore it cannot be advifeable to ufe it, when fafer 
medicines are always at hand. 
Its external ufe feems to be of as long a date as 
its internal j and it was on account of its cooling 
and repellent quality, that it came into credit as a 
fucus among the Italian ladies. Matthiolus recom- 
mends it in the eryflpelas, the fhingles, and other 
inflammatory diforders of the fkin. The leaves, 
applied in the form of a cataplafm, are much cele- 
brated by many writers, as of great ufe in refolving 
tumors, particularly of the bread:, and even fuch as 
are of a fchirrous and cancerous nature. Many of 
the old authors (24) mention this application of it, 
among other of the cooling and narcotic herbs j fuch 
as the common nightfhade, henbane, hounds-tongue,. 
&c. which it was ufual to apply on fuch occafions. 
Mr. Ray informs us, that Mr. Percival Willughby 
experienced its efficacy repeatedly, in difcuffing hard- 
nefles and cancerous tumors in the bread:. 
Its relaxing quality is very furprifing, as appears 
by that memorable cafe related by the lafl:-men- 
tioned author, of a lady’s applying a leaf of it to a 
little ulcer, fufpedted to be of the cancerous kind, a 
little below her eye, which rendered the pupil fo 
paralytic, that it loft all its motion for fome time 
afterwards : and that this event was really owing to 
that application, appears from the experiment’s being 
repeated with the fame effedt three times. 
The German phyficians have gone much further : 
they have even ventured to give it inwardly in can- 
cerous cafes. Dr. Haller, when treating of the qua- 
(24) See Foreftus, Etmuller, and the old chirurgical writers. 
lity 
