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Materia Medica. — Dauci radix.

FART II.

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plant in the manner of tobacco, affords relief in the paroxysmof spasmodic asthma; a practice introduced into England fromCeylon. The inspissated expressed juice of the leaves hasbeen usually given; and the extract has been lately found al-most specific in severe chronic pains. The root is given bythe native practitioners in the Carnatic, in violent head-achs.Hufelancl recommends the form of tincture. The dose of theextract, at first, should not exceed grs. ss. twice a day, increas-ing the quantity gradually, until grs. xii. be taken in twenty-four hours.

Several instances of the fatal effects of stramonium, wheneaten by mistake, are recorded by authors. 1 It produces de-lirium, stupor, convulsions, furious madness, paralysis, coldsweats, and death. As these effects depend on the narcoticprinciple, the best antidote is vinegar, after the stomach hasbeen emptied.

DA.UCUS. Spec. Plant. Willd. i. 1389.CI. 5- Ord. 2. Pentandria Digynia. Nat. ord. Umbellatas.G. 53. Cor. somewhat rayed. Flor. of the disk abortive. Fruit

hispid with hair.Species 1 D. Carota." Common Carrot. Med. Bot. 2d. edit. 130.

t. 50. Smith Flor. Brit. 300.Officinal. Dauci (hortensis) radix. ----- (agrestis) semiua, Lond.

Dauci Carotje radix, Edin. Daucus sylvestris; semina,

Dub. The root of the cultivated Carrot, and the seed of Wild

Carrot.

Sr/n. Carotte (F-), "Karotte; Mohrrube (G.), Carota (I.), Zanahoria (S.)Jstufleen [Arab. , Gajer (H.), Garjara (S<m. ).

The carrot is a biennial indigenous plant. In its wild stateit is found abundantly in pastures and on hills 3 ; flowering inJune and July. It is cultivated for culinary purposes and feed-ing cattle. The root is spindle-shaped, fleshy, and of a yellow-colour; throwing up a round furrowed stem, which rises abouttwo feet in height, and sends off long, erect, naked, floriferousbranches. The leaves are large, petiolated, thrice-pinnate, cleft,and hairy. The flowers are in many-rayed compound um-bels, flat on the top, and spreading, but after the flowering sea-son they become condensed in a concave form. The involucreconsists of several narrow trifid leaves; the involucel is morecommonly simple. The marginal flowers are white or yellow;the central, which are abortive, often of a dark blood colour.The seeds are in pairs, egg-shaped, convex, rough, and bristledon one side, and flat on the other. These appearances are

i It is said to be sometimes used by the Turks instead of opium, or as a substitutefor wine ; and the Chinese iiifu,e the seeds in beer. Spratt's Hist, of the Roy. Soc.162. 3 2rarj}u\ij/Qs ayuios Dioscoridis.

J We have seen it in great abundance on the range of chalk hills whick overlookRyegate in Surrey.