62 VEGETABLE STRUCTURE.- 
C H A P. XIV. 
Of the Course and Construction of the Outer 
Bark. 
Tj'ROM this view of the place, and difpofition of the feveral conflitu- 
^ ent parts of this Plant, we may proceed to trace their courfe and ter- 
minations ; and afterwards their conftrudlion. The courfe and termina- 
tion of the feveral parts can be truly known but one way, which is by 
feparating each part from the reft, without tearing, orothcrwife injuring it, 
This is a tedious and delicate operation ; but it is not impradticable. The 
purpofe is, to feparate one by one the feveral coats and conftituent fubftan- 
ces of the Plant, beginning with the outermoft, and working inward : this 
is not to be done in the entire Plant, nor while it is frelh and growing; he 
who fliould undertake fuch a talk, would attempt what is impolfible; 
but with the help of maceration, and a proper divifion, it may be effected, 
I ftiall diredt others according to the method by which I liave fucceeded. 
In the mouth of January take up a Plant of Black Hellebore in Flower, 
getting it out of the ground entire. Wafli away the mould from the Root, 
and laying the whole Plant lengthway upon a board, cut it acrofs into 
ten parts. Each part will confift of many pieces of the Plant, but they 
will be all pieces of the fame general portion of it. Thus the firft parcel, 
counting from the bottom, will confift of a number of ends of Fibres ; 
the fecond will confift of pieces of Fibres cut from a little higher; and fo 
on. Let there be ready ten earthen pans, with about a pint of water in 
each; and mark them i, 2, 3, and fo on to the tenth. Into the Pan 
marked 1, put the firft parcel, and the others, in a regular order, one 
parcel into each pan. Then tye a paper loofely over each, and fet them 
by to macerate. Thus there will be a number of pieces of every part of 
the Plant for experiments ; and by laying together one piece out of each 
pan, in the order wherein they are numbered, we may at any time make 
up the whole Plant. It was from pieces of this kind that I obtained all 
the preparations which confirm the following experiments. Different time 
will be required for the maceration of the feveral parts ; therefore the ex- 
periments upon them fliould be often repeated : for what does not fuc- 
ceed in one ftate of maceration, will in another. The outer Bark is the 
c firft 
