452 
THE  PEEPARATIONS  OF  CONIUM,  ETC. 
that  it  was  a  remedy  of  considerable  value.  Storck,  Collin  (a), 
Quarin.(5),  F.  Hoffmann  (c),  Hill  (d),  Rouppe  (e),  Gataker  (/), 
Andree  (g),  W.  Butter  Akenside  (A),fl  Spalowski  (Y),  Bur- 
rows have  all  advocated  its  use,  and  given  us  the  result  of 
their  observations  ;  but  if  we  carefully  examine  their  writings, 
we  shall  fail  to  recognize  any  mention  of  the  least  trace  of  those 
effects  which  distinguish  the  action  of  hemlock.  I  believe,  there- 
fore, that  we  are  fully  justified  in  concluding  that  the  extract, 
whether  prepared  in  Vienna,  Amsterdam,  Geneva,  Naples,  or  in 
London,  was  practically,  if  not  absolutely  destitute  of  the  active 
principle  of  the  plant.  Indeed,  the  impotency  of  the  drug  was 
occasionally  recognized  by  some  of  these  observers  themselves, 
who  attributed  it  to  various  causes, — the  wrong  plant  had  been 
used  ;  the  locality  in  which  it  had  been  grown,  or  the  situation 
in  which  it  had  been  exposed,  was  unsuitable  for  the  elaboration 
of  its  juices  ;  the  herb  had  been  gathered  a  month  too  soon  or 
too  late  ;  the  whole  of  the  watery  juice  of  the  expressed  herb 
had  been  used,  whereas  the  first  portions  should  have  been  re- 
jected and  only  the  latter  and  more  resinous  part  employed.  Dr. 
Butter,  with  a  more  correct  appreciation  of  the  real  cause,  cau- 
tions against  the  employment  of  too  much  heat  in  the  preparation 
of  the  extract,  and  gives  the  following  directions  for  its  prepa- 
ration : — Evaporate  the  freshly  expressed  juice  in  a  broad  glazed 
platter  over  a  charcoal  fire,  and,  as  soon  as  green  clots  form,  stir 
the  liquor  frequently,  keeping  it  at  such  a  heat  as  will  make  them 
move  about  without  driving  them  above  the  surface  or  occasion- 
(a)  Observ.  circa  Morbos  Acutos,  etc.,  1765. 
(&)  "Tentamina  de  Cicuta,"  1761. 
■  (c)  Observ.  on  the  Internal  and  External  Use  of  Hemlock,  1764. 
(d)  Sir  J.  Hill,  "  Directions  for  those  Afflicted  with  Cancers,  with  ac*. 
count  of  the  Vienna  Hemlock,"  1771. 
(e)  De  Morbis  Navigantium  ;  acced.  de  effectu  extracti  Cicutae,  etc., 
1764. 
(/)  "Essays  on  Medical  Subjects,"  1764. 
(g)  Obs.  on  Storck's  Treatise,  1761. 
(h)  "Treatise  on  Kinkcough,  with  an  Appendix  on  Hemlock,"  1773. 
(e)  "  De  Cicuta,"  1777. 
(j)  Prac.  Essay  en  Cancers,  with  method  of  Administering  Hemlock, 
1767. 
