ON DELPHINIUM CONSOLIDA. 
3 
into distinct ridges or tufts. This species of Delphinium is a 
native of Europe, but has been introduced into the United 
States, in some parts of which it has become naturalized, 
growing rather abundantly in woodlands, in some of the 
western states. 
PROPERTIES. 
All parts of the larkspur possess bitter and nauseating pro- 
perties. The seeds appear to be the portion in which the 
greatest share of activity resides. These are of an extremely 
bitter, acrid, and nauseous taste, and yield readily under the 
pestle, but are with difficulty reduced to an impalpable state, 
which seems to be in consequence of their containing a large 
proportion of fixed oil. Paper strewed over with the bruised 
seeds, quickly becomes saturated, by imbibing it. The 
flowers come next in acrimony to the seeds. Spirit imbued 
with their active principles, constitutes a domestic preparation 
for destroying lice in the hair, for which purpose it is said to 
be peculiarly efficient. It is also stated, that animals, after 
having partaken of the plant, become affected in a peculiar 
manner, to which affection the name of " staggers" has been 
applied, by those in whose vicinity the plant grows naturally. 
The juice of the flowers, by inspissation, yields a blue pig- 
ment, which, by the intervention of alum, as a mordant, has 
been used as a dye It is also stated, that a syrup, colored 
by this juice, has been criminally vended as syrup of violets. 
MEDICAL HISTORY. 
The Delphinium consolida has been placed in the secondary 
list of the United States Pharmacopoeia, where the root is 
specified as the officinal portion. This plant, for the most 
part, has been regarded as presenting but very humble claims 
to medical observation. 
Since all its remedial efficacy is possessed by some other 
substances, which are at the same time devoid of its objec- 
tionable qualities, it has, and no doubt justly, been cast into 
the shade. Still, like many other substances which have 
