Lewis mentions a poisonous root being mixed among some of the Gentian brought to London; the use of which occasioned in some instances death.  This was internally of a white colour, and void of bitterness.  There is no doubt but this was the root of the Veratrum album, a poisonous plant so similar, that it might readily be mistaken for it.—­Lewis’s Mat.  Med.

210.  Geum urbanum.  Common avens.  Root.  D.—­This has a warm, bitterish, astringent taste, and a pleasant smell, somewhat of the clove kind, especially in the spring, and when produced in dry warm soils.  Parkinson observes, that such as is the growth of moist soils has nothing of this flavour.  This root has been employed as a stomachic, and for strengthening the tone of the viscera in general:  it is still in some esteem in foreign countries, though not taken notice of among us.  It yields, on distillation, an elegant odoriferous essential oil, which concretes into a flaky form.—­Lewis’s Mat.  Med.

Similar Plants.—­Geum rivale; G. intermedium.

211.  Glycyrrhiza glabra.  Liquorice.  Root.  L. D.—­This is produced plentifully in all the countries of Europe:  that which is the growth of our own is preferable to such as comes from abroad; this last being generally mouldy, which this root is very apt to become, unless kept in a dry place.

The powder of liquorice usually sold is often mingled with flower, and, I fear, too often with substances not quite so wholesome.  The best sort is of a brownish yellow colour (the fine pale yellow being generally sophisticated) and of a very rich sweet taste, much more agreeable than that of the fresh root.  Liquorice is almost the only sweet that quenches thirst.

This root is a very useful pectoral, and excellently softens acrimonious humours, at the same time that it proves gently detergent:  and this account is warranted by experience.  It is an ingredient in the pectoral syrup, pectoral troches, the compound lime waters, decoction of the woods, compound powder of gum tragacanth, lenitive electuary, and theriaca.  An extract is directed to be made from it in the shops; but this preparation is brought chiefly from abroad, though the foreign extract is not equal to such as is made with proper care among ourselves.—­Lewis’s Mat.  Med.

212.  Gratiola officinalis.  Hedge-hyssop.  Herb.  E. D.—­The leaves have a very bitter disagreeable taste:  an infusion of a handful of them when fresh, or a dram when dried, is said to operate strongly as a cathartic.  Kramer reports that he has found the root of this plant a medicine similar in virtue to Ipecacuanha.

Similar Plants.—­Lythrum Salicaria; Scutellaria galericulata.

213.  Helleborus niger.  Black hellebore.  Root.  L.—­The tase of Hellebore is acrid and bitter.  Its acrimony, as Dr. Grew observes, is first felt on the tip of the tongue, and then spreads immediately to the middle, without being much perceived on the intermediate part:  on chewing it for a few minutes, the tongue seems benumbed, and affected with a kind of paralytic stupor, as when burnt by eating any thing too hot.