(seq. 367)

360

Materia Medica

Stimulants

The practice of employing this vegitable in decoction seems to have arisen in New
England Dr May in an inaugural dissertation mentioned a
case of tetanus which had been cured by decoction, from the
analogy between tetanus and hydraphobia, I have prescribed it in the
latter and the injections made some impressions on the disease.
In strangulated hernia either the smoke or the injection sometimes
allow the reduction by the laxis, it is necessary from the power that
it exerts upon the system to be nice in the quantity, its use in hernia
will be more amply discussed by the professor or Surgery to whom it
more immediately belongs. It has been employ’d in cases of
suspended animation from drowning, hanging &c. It is however pretty
much neglected and in my opinion it is a verry doubtfull remidy.
I have now closed the order of solano, the next is the umbelliffers,
only one article of which I conceive necessary to lay before you.

Umbilliffero Hemlock. This is a plant found
in various parts of Europe but is not I believe a native of this country,
it is however verry common in some of the states. Some physicians
have mistaken this for cow parsley, it is distinguished from the other
umbelliferous plants by its large and spotted plants stalks or redish
brick colour, the dark gray of its leaves and disagreeable odour, especially