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Materia Medica. — Helleborusfcetidus. part ii.

resinous purgatives, which act with less virulence. As anemmenagogue it is useful in plethoric habits, when preparationsof iron are contra-indicated. When black hellebore is takenin too great quantity, it occasions violent vomitings, inflam-mation of the stomach, and death. These effects are to beobviated by evacuating the stomach, by drinking copiously ofmild mucilaginous fluids, and then employing the most powerfulantiphlogistic measures. It is seldom prescribed in substance;but either in the form of tincture, or of extract, or of decoctionmade with two drachms of the root to a pint of water.' Thedose of the root is from grs. x. to 9j., which purges strongly ;but to produce its other effects two or three grains are sufficient.Of the decoction f^j. may be given every four hours.

Officinal preparations. Tinctura Hellebori nigri, L. E. D. Ex-tractum Hellebori nigri, E. D.

2. Helleborus fojtidus.Officinal. Hellebori fqstidi eolia, Lond. Helleboraster ;

folia, Dub. The leaves of 'Foetid Hellebore.

Syn. Hellebore fcetide (F.), Stinkende Niesswurzell (G.), Elleboroietido (7.),Helleboro hediondo (S.).

This is a perennial indigenous plant, growing under hedgesand in shady places, on a chalky soil, flowering in March andApril. The root is small, and bent, with a great many slenderdark-coloured fibres. The stem is about eighteen inches high,round, strong, naked, divided and subdivided into branches,and compressed towards the top. The leaves, which standupon long channelled footstalks, surrounding the middle of thestem, are of a deep lurid green colour, and pedate: the leafletslong, narrow, lanceolate, obscurely serrated, generally nine innumber, four united at their bases on each side, and one termi-nal. At each ramification of the flower-stem is a stem-claspingbroad stipule, or scaly leaf, trifid at the place where the stemfirst branches, then bifid, and at the ultimate subdivisionsentire, oval, and pointed; those on the flowering stem are of amuch paler green than the proper leaves. The flowers arenumerous, terminal, peduncled, and pendent: the petals are five,two of which are oval, and the other three heart-shaped; thewhole concave, persistent, of a pale green colour tipped with aclaret purple: the nectaries are five or eight, similar to those ofthe black hellebore. The stamens are numerous, and flat atthe base, the length of the petals, with white anthers; thegermens three or more, becoming beaked pods, containinground black seeds.

These roots were long used as domestic worm medicine, be-fore they were introduced into the list of materia medica by theLondon College. 2

i Wintringham, Thesaurus Med. p. 87.

2 " Probably upon the authority of Dr. Bissett," Med. Bot. 478.