he has alio been well informed, both from Berlin and Vienna, that the Hemlock Roots in thofe countries are ij
virulent than ours about London. Mr. T imothy L ane informs me, that he alfo with great caution madefoS
experimcntsrof the like kind, and in a fhort time found he could venture to, eat a confiderable part of a Root with1
any inconvenience; after that, he had fome large Roots boiled, and found them as agreeable eating at dinner with nj
as Carrots, which they in tafte fomewhat refembled: and as far as his experience, joined with that of 0t|fl
informed him, the Roots might be cultivated in Gardens, and either eaten raw like Celery, or boiled as Parfnipl
Carrots; that in Spring and Winter they are not woody as in Summer; that he has eaten them from differ]
places and in all feafons; and that he perceived fonje Roots were; more pungent than others, but not in any <W|
worthy notice.
The experiments of thefe ingenious Gentlemen fufficiently evince the innocence of the Roots of this J
contrary to what has been aflerted by Dr. Storok ; and hence we may infer, that whatever accounts have!
related by Authors of their poifonous qualities, the Roots of fome other Plant muft have been made ufcl
In the poifonous quality of the Herb, however, all Authors feem agreed ; but with refpeft to its efficacy J medicine they very much differ. I f we may believe Dr. Storck, there is fcarce a difeafe incident to
human body which, it either does not cure, or relieve; but it is remarkable that a copious experience!
fifteen years, as well in the great Hofpitals of this Metropolis as in the private practice of the whole Kiugdl
fhould not have afforded one inftance of a perfect cpre by the Extract, at leaft none fuch has appeared among!
valuable colle&ions of cafes publifhed by our College of Phyficians, and other Medical Societies. Both Dr. Fothe1
gill of London, and the late Dr. Ru tty of Ireland, men of the greateft eminence in their prefeffion, have deck!
that the fuccefs attending it has not been equal to what they had reafon to expert from Dr. Storck’s account
(•did. Medical Obfervations and Enquiries, vol. 3.) ; yet though it had failed them in the cure of many of thofe difl
which unfortunately were the opprobria medicorum; it had proved beneficial in various obfiinate complaints. Scrap!
lous tumours were to appearance diflolved by i t ; the progrefs both of occult and ulcerated Cancers was retail
the pain alleviated, and the difcharge changed for the better in every refpe£b; divers putrid and fordid Ulcers
by the ufe of Hemlock remarkably mended in their difcharge, and difpofed to heal, in fome of which the SubliJ
had been given in vain; hence the Extradt is ffcill frequently ufed, and will probably continue to be prelcril
becaufe its effects, as an Anodyne, will often afford at leaft a temporary relief, and becaufe in defperate difeafl
doubtful remedy feems better than none at all.
The taking of the Extradt is generally attended with a giddinefs, and often with a pain of the head, naufea, I
other difagreeahle fymptpms 1 in fome, however, its effedt are apparently anodyne, ps it eafes pain and proml
reft, even where Opium has failed.
Phyficians feem fomewhat divided about the beft mode of exhibiting this medicine'; fome recommending!
extradt as being moft eafily taken in the form of pills; others the powder, as not being fubjedt to that variai
which the extradt is liable to from, being made in different ways. With refpedt to the period likewife at which!
plant fhould be gathered, they feem not perfedtly agreed; fome recommending it when in its full vigour, and!
cpming into bloom; others when the flowers are\ going off, and the \yhole plant has acquired a yellowilh lf
That the Extradt might be at all times equally adtive, and uniformly prepared. Dr. Cullen has for? many j|
recommended the making it from the unripe feeds; and this mode the College of Phyficians at Edinburgh j
thought proper to adopt in their pew Pharmacopoeia,
Hemlock grows very frequently on banka by the fides of Roads, by hedge fides, and in Fields and Gardr
flowering in the month of July.
We have a common Englifh proverb, that what is one Man's Meat is another Man's P°dfon, and agreeable fol
are the lines of L ucretius which relate to this plant:
“ Pinguefcere fape Cicutd
“ Barbigeros pecudes homini qua ejl acre venentim''
That it affords nourishment to Birds likewife there is fufficjent evidence : our learned Philofopher and accj
Na'turalift Mr. R ay found in the Crop of a Thrulh abundance, of Hemlock.feeds, at a time too. when other^
table food might be had in abundance. It appears to be eaten by very few or p'plnfedts,
The dried ferns or kexes are ufed by Boys for various purpofes.
The Hemlock is obvioufly diftinguiflied from our other umbelliferous plants, by its large and Jpattedplk, H
dark and Jhining green colour of its bottom leaves, and particularly by their difagreeablefmell when bruifed, an "J
according to Dr. Storck refembles that of Mice. The Fool's Parjley and 'Scandix. rough jeeds are the j
likely to be miftaken for this poifonous plant, but may eafily be diftinguifhed if attention be paid to thedelcrip.
and figures we have already given of them.
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