DERIVATIONS OF THE LATIN NAMES OF PLANTS* 
185 
not stand. As death ensues from the excessive stimulant action of the poison of 
the Rattle-snake, and of the saliva of a rabid animal, upon the muscular system* 
I consider that a cure is effected by the peculiar sedative power of the Alisma, 
or anti-spasmodic, relaxing the spasms; and I believe it will be found to be an 
effectual specific for the cure of these two dreadful maladies, and also of tetanus. 
The best mode of administering it, when the difficulty of swallowing comes on, 
is to scrape about an ounce of the solid root, and let it be eaten between two 
slices of bread. The dose to be repeated in an hour, if the spasms are not 
relieved. It is called Water Plantain on account of the resemblance between, 
its leaves and those of the Common Plantain ( Plantago major). 
Allium .—From oleo to smell, on account of its disagreeable odour; or from 
aXsft/, to avoid, as being unpleasant to most people; or, according to Hooker, 
from the Celtic all , which signifies acrid, burning. It is a genus of strongly 
scented bulbous plants, all of them edible, and some of them of the greatest 
antiquity as pot-herbs. 
Allium ampeloprasum , Great Round-headed Garlic.—The bulbs are white and 
globose, increasing rapidly in a garden, by lateral offsets, till they compose a mass 
as big as a man s head, resembling a bunch of grapes; whence the old Greek name 
of the plant, Ampeloprasum , vine-garlic, might have originated; but a name of 
similar construction has been applied to several species from their being prevalent 
in the Vineyards of some countries. In this luxuriant condition it seldom pro¬ 
duces flowers. Withering observes that the trivial name may have been 
derived from cx.[xm Ao<r, a Vine, and 7 rpxaos, leeky; alluding to the root, and its 
appendages. It is eaten along with other pot-herbs. It communicates its flavour 
to the milk and butter of Cows that feed upon it. 
Allium arenarium , Sand Garlic.—As a curious instance of viviparous produc¬ 
tion and retentive vitality, it is recorded, on authority of a writer in the Mag. 
Nat. Hist., that the seeds in specimens of this plant, which had been kept for 
two years, were found germinating in the calyx, and some had even put forth 
their cotyledons. The flowers are deep red and intermixed with dark purple, 
ovate pointed bulbs, by which, as well as by the root, the plant is increased; but 
Sir J. E. Smith remarks, that such species as bear these bulbs among their flowers 
seldom perfect any seed. 
Allium carinatum , Mountain Garlic.—This plant has but little of the Garlic 
smell. Sir J. E. Smith doubts if it is really distinct from A. oleraceum , though 
it differs in the flatter form of its leaves and somewhat in size. 
Allium vineale , Crow Garlic.—The young shoots are eaten in salads, or boiled 
as a pot-herb. 
Allium oleraceum , Wild Garlic, Streaked Field Garlic,—-The whole plant has 
an unpleasant smell, and is a very troublesome weed, difficult of extirpation, 
vol. hi.—no. xix. 2 c 
