PREPARATIONS  OF  CONIUM,  ETC. 
359 
Feeling,  however,  that  it  is  a  matter  of  considerable  import- 
ance to  determine  whether  the  dried  plant  does  retain  any  active 
properties,  and  if  so  in  what  degree,  I  have  carefully  examined 
the  dried  leaves,  from  a  portion  of  which  the  tinctures  employed 
in  my  experiments  were  prepared.  Excepting  in  the  poultice, 
the  dried  leaf  is  no  longer  used  in  the  British  Pharmacopoeia ; 
but  the  importance  of  the  investigation  will  be  recognized  when 
it  is  observed  that  the  dried  plant  is  largely  used  in  some  other 
Pharmacopoeias.  Looking  first  to  our  nearest  neighbors,  I  find 
that  the  French  Codex  contains  no  less  than  six  preparations  of 
the  dried  leaf,  viz  : — 1.  An  alcoholic  extract ;  2.  A  plaster  made 
of  this  extract ;  3.  An  injection,  composed  of  an  infusion  of  the 
dried  leaf ;  4.  Powder  of  the  dried  leaves  ;  5.  An  setherial  tinct- 
ure ;  and  lastly,  6.  A  tincture. 
The  Norwegian  Pharmacopoeia  has  two  preparations  of  conium* 
1.  The  dried  leaf,  prescribed  as  follows: — "medium  dose,  2  to 
3  grains  ;  10  grains  would  be  a  dangerous  dose."  2.  An  aqueous 
extract  of  the  dried  leaf  treated  by  alcohol,  of  which  it  is 
said : — "  medium  dose  1  to  2  grains ;  a  dangerous  dose,  6 
grains." 
There  is  scarcely  a  Continental  Pharmacopoeia  which  does  not 
contain  these  and  similar  preparations  of  conium. 
The  United  States  Pharmacopoeia  contains  four  prepara- 
tions of  conium,  three  of  which  are  derived  from  the  dried 
leaf; — 1,  an  alcoholic  extract;  2,  a  fluid  extract;  and  3,  a 
tincture  corresponding  to  that  of  the  London  Pharmacopoeia. 
It  is  to  be  observed  that  the  dried  plant  is  thus  extensively 
used  notwithstanding  that  some  very  competent  observers  have 
expressed  doubts  respecting  its  activity.  Geiger  indeed  expressly 
states*  that  the  dried  leaves  of  hemlock  do  not  contain  any 
conia,  and  Pereira  saysf  "  no  reliance  can  be  placed  on  the  dried 
leaves,  however  carefully  prepared,  for  they  sometimes  yield  no 
conia,  though  they  possess  the  proper  hemlock  odor  and  a  fine 
green  color."  Of  these  two  statements  the  latter  is  nearer  the 
truth,  but  it  implies— what  I  believe  is  untrue — that  some  dried 
*  Magazin  fiir  Pharmacie,  xxxvi. 
f  Pereira,  Blem.  Materia  Medica,  vol.  ii.  part  ii.  p.  195. 
