wherever we might expect children to discover the 
berries, which prove inviting, from their resem- 
blance to red currants. Thirty of these berries being 
given to a dog, he died in the space of three hours ; 
and, upon his stomach being opened, the berries 
were discovered to have undergone no change by the 
powers of digestion ; there can, therefore, be little 
doubt of their poisonous effects. 
Notwithstanding the danger incurred by an im- 
proper use of this plant, yet, employed medicinally, 
with discretion, we have numerous authorities in sup- 
port of the benefits resulting from its virtues ; parti- 
cularly in rheumatism, jaundice, scrophula, and scor- 
butic affections. It is generally said to increase all 
the secretions and excretions ; to excite the heart and 
arteries ; but its effects seem to differ, according to 
the nature of the soil where it grows, being most ef- 
ficacious from dry soils. 
Linneus observes, that few medicines are better 
adapted to afford relief in acute rheumatism, inflam- 
mations and fevers. Boerhaave recommends it as 
a sweetener of the blood and juices; and Bergius, 
also, mentions its virtues in the cure of land scurvy, 
and other cutaneous diseases. Haller notices a case 
of cancerous ulcer of the breast being cured by the 
application of its juice and leaves. 
In the London Pharmacopoeia, the decoction is 
directed to be made, by adding an ounce of the sliced 
stalks, to a pint and a half of water, and boiling it 
down to a pint. The dose there ordered, is half an 
ounce to an ounce, three times a day; this may, 
however, in general, be gradually increased to a much 
larger quantity. 
Hort. Kew. 2, v. 1, 397. 
