THE PRINCIPLES OF BOTANY. 15 
been generally admitted into the list of medicinal poisons or 
remedies.”* 
Water hemlock (Cicuta virosa ) has the reputation of being 
even a more powerful poison than the common hemlock. 
Fortunately it is nowhere a very abundant plant, and when 
it occurs plentifully animals seem to be repelled from par¬ 
taking of it on account of its strong and nauseous taste. It 
is by some reputed to be the plant which was used for the 
poisoning of Socrates. It has the country name of cowbane, 
which was probably derived from the fact that in former 
times, when wet and marshy places were more abundant 
than they are at present, some of this most virulent plant 
may have led to accidents to cattle partaking of it. It was 
formerly used as a medicine, but is now never employed, 
even in country herbal practice, except now and then, in the 
shape of a poultice, for rheumatism. 
Goatweed {/Egopodium podograria ) is common to old 
ruins and old-fashioned gardens, where it was at one time in 
constant request as a remedy for the distressing malady 
from which it is named. Indeed, it was once held in so 
great repute that it was said, like Morison's pills and other 
quack remedies, to be the only universal remedy capable of 
curing all the ills that flesh is heir to— 
“ The itch, the stich, the palsey, and the gout, 
And if the very Devil’s in this herb will fetch him out.” 
Mrs. Lankester tells us that it is sometimes called bishop’s- 
weed, from the fact of its being often found in ecclesiastical 
ruins. Alas ! for such a herb of grace ; it is at present only 
esteemed as a bore in the shape of an irrepressible weed, both 
in the garden and in the churchyard. 
It would take too long to dwell upon the qualities of the 
different native genera and species of this extensive order; 
but, as we have already referred to the stimulating qualities 
of the seeds of some of the species, these virtues depend upon 
a store of essential oil which is for the most part found in 
the seeds. 
The seeds of the Umbelliferse are in pairs or in two peri¬ 
carps or carpels, each of which is marked by five ridges or 
lines ; when the elevated ridge is absent they are very different 
in shape, as may be seen on examining the flattened but 
smooth seeds of the parsnip, or the curiously setose ones of 
the carrot. Within the coat of the carpels, usually between 
the ribs, are situated ducts or canals, of a more or less oblong 
* See ‘English Botany,’ vol. iv, p. 174-5 
