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ON  CTCUTA  MACULATA. 
The  Cicuta  maculata  is  an  umbelliferous  plant,  inhabiting  wet 
meadows  and  the  banks  of  streams,  from  the  northern  to  the 
southern  limits  of  the  United  States,  flowering  in  July  and  Au- 
gust. 
The  root  is  composed  of  a  number  of  large,  oblong,  fleshy  tu- 
bers, diverging  from  the  base  of  the  stem,  which  are  frequently 
found  of  the  size  and  length  of  the  finger ;  distinct  cells  or  cavi- 
ties are  to  be  found  on  various  parts  of  the  bark,  which  are  filled 
with  a  resinous  juice  of  a  yellow  color.  The  plant  is  from  three 
to  five  feet  in  height,  with  a  smooth  stem,  branched  at  the  top, 
hollow-jointed,  striated,  and  generally  of  a  purple  color,  except 
when  the  plant  grows  in  the  shade,  in  which  case  it  is  green. 
The  leaves  are  compound,  the  largest  being  about  three  times 
pinnate,  with  the  exception  of  the  uppermost,  which  are  ternate. 
Most  of  the  petioles  are  furnished  with  large  obtuse  stipules, 
which  clasp  the  stem  at  their  base.  The  leaflets  are  oblong  acu- 
minate, serrate,  with  very  acute  serratures.  The  flowers  grow 
in  umbels  of  a  medium  size,  without  a  general  involucre,  the  par- 
tial umbels  are  furnished  with  involucres  of  very  short,  narrow, 
acute  leaflets.  The  calyx  is  composed  of  five  very  minute  seg- 
ments. There  are  five  white,  obovate  petals,  with  inflated  points. 
The  fruit  is  very  nearly  orbicular  and  compressed,  with  ten  fur- 
rows, crowned  at  top,  and  separating  into  two  semicircular 
seeds. 
Chemical  History. — A  cold  infusion  made  from  the  seeds  by 
maceration  and  displacement  was  of  a  dark  brown  color,  and 
gave  an  acid  reaction  with  litmus. 
Albumen. — The  cold  infusion  was  coagulated  by  heat,  showing 
the  presence  of  albumen. 
Tannic  Acid. — When  the  tincture  of  muriate  of  iron  is  added 
to  the  cold  infusion,  a  greenish-black  precipitate  is  produced,  and 
a  solution  of  gelatin  is  also  readily  coagulated  by  it,  showing 
the  presence  of  tannic  acid. 
(rum. — To  an  infusion  made  with  boiling  water  a  solution  of 
subacetate  of  lead  was  added  till  it  ceased  to  produce  a  precipi- 
tate ;  this  was  suspended  in  water,  and  the  lead  removed  by  a 
current  of  hydrosulphuric  acid  ;  on  evaporating  the  filtered  solu- 
tion to  dryness,  a  substance  was  left  which  was  soluble  in  water 
