5 
POISONOUS EFFECTS OF THE HELLEBORUS FOETIDUS 
(stinking hellebore, bear’s foot). 
By Thomas Mayer, sen. M.R.C.V.S . , Newcastle-under-Lyne. 
From the very deleterious consequences which too often arise 
from the improper use and administration of varieties of the helle- 
bore family, I consider it my duty to forward you the following paper 
thereon, to guard the young practitioner from committing himself 
by their improper employment. 
The helleborus foetidus belongs to the 13th Class polyandria ; 
Order, the 6th polygynia. 
Essent. Gen. Char. : Calyx, none ; petals, five or more ; nec- 
tary, bilabiate, tubular ; capsule, many-seeded, rather erect. 
Spec. Char. : Scape one or two-flowered, nearly naked, leaves 
pedate. 
Description : It rises to two feet high. The leaves below are 
numerous, and stand upon long foot-stalks, resembling the former ; 
those above are narrow, lanciolate, of a dark green. The flowers 
are inconspicuous, green, terminal, upon long peduncles. 
History : This plant is found wild in England, and flowers in 
February, March, and April : it is perennial, growing in shady 
places and under hedges. The leaves have an acrid, bitter, nause- 
ous taste, and unpleasant smell, especially when they are fresh. 
When dried, they are frequently given as a medicine to destroy 
worms, particularly the long round worm, teres lumhricus ; but they 
must be used sparingly, being so violent and uncontrollable in their 
operation as to destroy life. 
The family of the hellebores were in great repute with the 
ancients, who employed them as powerful purgatives in cases of 
insanity, in uterine affections as emmenagogues, also as powerful 
diuretics and anthelmintics. 
The hellebores have been employed in veterinary medicine for 
destroying worms, for which purpose the leaves of the helleborus 
foetidus have been administered. The powder of the helleborus 
niger is a great favourite with many practitioners, combined with 
other preparations, for the cure of mange, and, no doubt, has an 
excellent effect in combination. 
The root of the hellebore is also employed by cowleeches for 
pegging* calves, as a security against being struck ; likewise to 
* It may not be known to all our readers that “ pegging ” is another word 
for piercing the dewlaps or ears of calves and swine, and other animals. In 
many parts of the country the practice of it is adopted for the prevention as 
