Flora Medica

MELANTHACE^E.Leaves plaited, broad-ovate, acute or rather blunt. Panicle terminal.Flowers yellowish white, green at the back, 8 lines in diameter, with thedivisions spreading, serrulate and slightly wavy. In other respects it ismuch like the last. The rhizoma is very poisonous, acting as a localirritant. Applied to the nose it produces violent sneezing ; placed incontact with the skin it causes redness and inflammation. Swallowedin small doses, as 1 or 2 grains, it is said to act as an emetic and purgative; in large quantities it causes violent vomiting, purging, andother consequences that produce death. It is rarely employed internally,except in mania and epilepsy, lepra, torpid conditions of the largeintestines, gout, &c. In the form of powder it is sometimes prescribedas a sternutatory in amaurosis and affections of the brain. The unguentumveratri is used against the itch, and the decoction not only inskin diseases, but also to destroy pediculi.1238. V. Sabadilla Retz. obs. i. 31. Descourtilz in ann. soc.linn. par. 1824, 167. N. and E. pi. med. t. 48. R. and S.vii. 1558 Mexico and the West India Islands.A plant 3 or 4 feet high. Stem erect, simple, round. Leaves numerous,spreading on the ground, all radical, ovate-oblong, obtuse, with8-14 ribs, glaucous underneath. Panicle spreading, simple, or a littlebranched. Flowers rather nodding. Pedicels very short, approximatedin twos and threes ;those of the fertile flowers eventually becomingturned to one side, those of the sterile flowers deciduous and leaving ascar. Segments of the perianth ovate-lanceolate, veinless, blackishpurple. Ovaries 3, oblong, connate, obtuse; styles acute, dilateddownwards ; stigmas simple. Capsules 3, in form resembling those ofLarkspur, opening at the apex inside. Seeds 3 in each cell, imbricated,curved, blunt on one side, sooty, acrid. Descourtilz. This furnishesone of the Cevadil/a, Cebadilla or Sabadilla seeds of commerce, whichwere formerly used to destroy pediculi, and as anthelmintics ; theyhave also been employed in chronic rheumatism and paralysis, and inneuralgic cases. They are now chiefly consumed in the manufacture ofVeratrif*, to which they give the name. This substance is an active anddangerous local stimulant but administered with;caution it proves avaluable medicine in gout, rheumatism, anasarca, and generally as asubstitute for Colchicum.HELONIAS.Perianth 6-parted; segments narrow, rather unequal, obtuse,not striated or herbaceous, nor imbricating. Stamens 6,inserted into the base of the segments, unequal ; filaments subulate;anthers reniform with confluent cells. Capsule separatinginto 3 many-celled follicles. Seeds compressed, winged at theapex or wingless.1239. H. officinalis Don in Edinb. newphil. Journ. Oct. 1832.p. 234. Veratrum officinale SchlecJit. in Linn. vi. 45. Easternside of the Mexican Andes, near Barranca de Tioselo, by theHacienda de la Laguna, in grassy places.Bulbous. Plants generally caespitose. Leaves linear, tapering to apoint, even, smooth, entire, channelled above, carinate at the back,586