he has alfo been well informed both from Berlin and Vienna, that the Hemlock Roots in thofe countries, are no more 
virulent than ours about London. Mr. Timothy Lane informs me, that he alfo with great caution made 
fome experiments of the like kind, and in a lhort time found he could venture to eat a confiderable part of 
a root without any inconvenience ; after that, he had fome large roots boiled, and found them as agreeable 
eating at dinner with meat, as Carrots, which they in tafte fomewhat refembled : and as far as his experience, 
joined with that of others informed him, the Roots might be cultivated in Gardens, and either eaten raw 
like Celery, or boiled as Parfneps or Carrots. That in Spring and Winter they are not woody as in Summer: 
that he has eaten them from different places and in all feafpns ; and that he perceived fome roots were more 
pungent than others, but not in any degree worthy notice. 
The experiments of thefe ingenious Gentlemen fufficiently evince the innocence of the rooots of this plant, 
contrary to what has been aflerted by Dr. Storck, and hence we may infer that whatever accounts have been 
related by Authors of their poifonous qualities, the Roots of fome other Plant muft have been made ufe of. 
In the poifonous quality of the Herb however all Authors feem agreed, but with refpeft to its efficacy as a 
medicine they very much differ. If we may believe Dr. Storck, there is lcarce a difeafe incident to the 
human body which it either does not cure, or relieve ; but it is remarkable that a copious experience of 
fifteen years, as well in the great Hofpitals of this Metropolis as in the private pra&ice of the whole King- 
dom, fhould not have afforded one inftance of a perfe£t cure by the Extradt, at leaf! none fuch has appeared 
among the valuable collections of cafes publifhed by our College of Phyficians and other Medical Societies. Both 
Dr. Fothergill of London, and the late Dr. Rutty of Ireland, men of the greateft eminence in their profeffion, 
have declared that the fuccefs attending it has not been equal to what they had real'on to expedt from Dr. Stqrck’s 
account of it 5 (vid. medical observations and enquiries, vol. 3.) yet tho’ it had failed them in the cure of many of 
thofe difeafes which unfortunately were the opprobia medicorum , it had proved beneficial in various obffinate com- 
plaints ; Scrophulous tumours were to appearance diflolved by it ; the progrefs both of occult and ulcerated 
Cancers was retarded, the pain alleviated, and the difcharge changed for the better in every refpedt ; divers pu- 
trid and fordid Ulcers were by the ufe of Hemlock remarkably mended in their difcharge, and difpofed to heal, 
in fome of which the Sublimate had been given in vain ; hence the Extradt is hill frequently uled, and will 
probably continue to be preferibed, becaufe its effedts as an Anodyne will often afford at leaf: a temporary re- 
lief, and becaufe in defperate difeales a doubtful remedy feems better than none at all. 
The taking of the Extradt is generally attended with a giddinefs and often with a pain of the head, naufea, 
and other difagreeable fymptoms ; in fome however its effedts are apparently anodyne, as it eafes pain and pro- 
motes reft even where Opium has failed, 
Phyficians feem fomewhat divided about the beft mode of exhibiting this medicine, fome recommending the 
extradt as being moft eafily taken in the form of pills, others the powder, as not being fubjedt to that varia- 
tion which the extradt is liable to from being made in different ways. With refpedt to the period likewife 
at which the plant fhould be gathered, they feem not perfectly agreed, fome recommending it when in its full 
vigour, and juft coming into bloom, others when the flowers are going off and the whole plant has acquired 
a yellowifh hue, That the Extradt might be at all times equally adtive, and uniformly prepared, Dr. Cullen has 
for many years recommended the making it from theunripe feeds, and this mode the College of Phyficians at Edin- 
burgh has thought proper to adopt in their new Pharmacopceia. 
Hemlock grows very frequently on banks by the fides of Roads, by hedge fides, and in Fields and Gardens, flower- 
ing in the month of July. 
We have a common Englifh Proverb that what is one Mans Meat is another m(ins Poifon, and agreeable to this are 
the lines of Lucretius which relate to this plant ; 
“ Pingueji cere fecpc Cicutd 
“Barbigeros pecudes homini qua; ejl acre venenum." 
That it affords nourifhment to Birds likewife there is fufficient evidence, our learned Philofopher and accurate Na- 
turalift Mr. Ray, found in the Crop of a Thrufh abundance of Hemlock feeds, at a time too when other vegetable 
food might be had in abundance. It appears to be eaten by very few or no Infers. 
The dried ftems or kexes are ufed by Boys for various purpofes. 
The Hemlock is obvioufly diftinguifhed from our other umbelliferous plants by its large and /potted Jlalk, by the dark 
and Jhimng green colour of ,ts bottom leaves, and particularly by their difagreeable fmell when bruifed, and which accord- 
ing to Dr. Storck refembles that of Mice. The Fools Parjley and Scandix with rough feeds are the moft likely to be 
nnftaken for this poifonous plant, but may eafily be diftinguifhed if attention be paid to the defcriptions and figures we 
pave already given of them, 
