PENTANDTJA. DIGYNIA. Selinum 
371 
SELI'NUM. Flowers all fertile : Involucr. reflexed : petals 
heart-shaped, equal: seeds small, (compressed, E.), with 
five membranous ridges, the lateral ones the largest. 
given in doses of only four or five grains twice a day, for promoting a disposition to heal 
in obstinate ulcers on the legs; and its tendency to heal ulcerations of the lungs, after 
the inflammatory symptoms have abated, must be generally allowed. Dr. Home asserts 
its efficacy in chronic rheumatism, and paralysis rheumatica, when tried with perseverance. 
The extract is much used as a narcotic and sedative, often with obvious benefit. For nu¬ 
merous facts relative to this plant consult the works of Baron Haller. The Dispensatory 
gives the following very proper caution :—“ We must not be misled by the officinal name 
Cicuta to confound it with the Cicuta virosa of Linnaeus, which is one of the most 
violent plants produced in this country, and readily distinguished from the Conium , by 
having its roots always immersed in water, which those of Conium never are.” Among 
our various researches for the elucidation of British plants, none have proved more per¬ 
plexing, and ultimately less satisfactory, than those connected with Hemlock. The dif¬ 
ferent commentaries on Conium maculatum , Cicuta virosa , and (Enanthe crocata, from 
a deficiency of more early accurate discrimination, are almost inextricable. Medically, 
the subject is important, as comprising most powerful ingredients ; and classically, it is far 
from uninteresting, as referring to the mores antiquorum. Under the first head we shall 
only further remark, that, notwithstanding a prevalent impression of its being less 
deleterious than the other plants above named, doubtless when properly prepared it 
will be found sufficiently potent for either good or bad purposes ; and that whenever it 
has appeared to be inefficacious, mild, or inert, some other herb must have been sub¬ 
stituted, or the virtues of the Conium been dissipated by exsiccation. Our faithful 
Gerard, concurring with Dioscorides and Pliny, should not be slighted, when he de¬ 
nounces “ Hemlocke,” as “ a very evill, dangerous, hurtfull, and poisonous herbe; in¬ 
somuch, that whosoever taketh of it into his body dieth remedilesse.” Wherefore, no 
doubt, a proper ingredient for the cauldron of the “ weird sisters,”— 
“ For a charm of powerful trouble, 
Like a hell-broth,”-- 
was 
(< Root of Hemlock , digged i tit dark." 
The second point is involved in greater mystery. Whether this plant be indeed justly and 
solely chargeable with the death of the Athenian sage, the real “ herba let hi/era, morte So- 
cratis clara ,” from which, when bruised, was prepared a poisonous drink for state criminals 
condemned to death ; or whether that opprobrium may not attach equally, if not altogether, 
to the other yet more “ fatal sisters” above cited, it were no easy task to determine. 
Suffice it to add a passage which is more to the purpose than any other we have seen. 
“ Haller was inclined to think that the plant which was fatal to Socrates and Phocion was 
not Conium maculatum , but Cicuta virosa of Linnaeus, which the French writers have 
called Cicutaria. Lamarck on the other hand asserts, that Conium maculatum of 
Linnaeus, his Cicuta magna , is the Cicuta of ancient authors, the very plant by which 
Socrates was poisoned; and censures Linnaeus for changing its name to Conium. But if 
this great Botanist had looked into the Greek authors, he would have found that Linnaeus 
only restored the most ancient name, and that the word Cicuta is entirely of Latin origin, 
unknown to the Greek language. Whether Linnaeus would not have done better if he 
had retained the terra Cicuta^ which had been adopted by all modern Botanists before him, 
may, perhaps, be answered affirmatively. His Cicuta virosa must then, in concurrence 
with Haller’s opinion, have been called Conium, But when the change was made, and 
had, through the extensive circulation of the works of Linnaeus, obtained general currency, 
a revival of the ancient name, instead of removing, has in fact increased the confusion. 
Whatever may have been the plant by which Socrates was judicially murdered, our 
Conium maculatum unquestionably possesses deleterious qualities. Plato does not call 
the plant by which Socrates perished Cicuta , a word which he had never heard ; nor does 
he give it any Greek name peculiar to it, but constantly uses the very general term <p<xp/x<xxov, 
which denotes a strong potion, either poisonous or medicinal.” Rees Cyc* E.) 
2 b 2 
