LEOPARDS BANE, in botany: A genus of the polygamia superflua order, belonging to the syngenesia class of plants; and in the natural method ranking under the 49th order, Compositae-difformis. The receptacle is naked; the pappus is simple; and the filaments are five, without anthera. The Species are seven, all natives of Ethiopia, except the two following: 1. The montana, with oval leaves, grows naturally on the Alps, and also upon many of the high mountains in Germany, and other cold parts of Europe. The roots of this species, when planted in a proper soil and situation, spread very far under the surface, and put out many entire oval leaves, from between which the flower-stems arise, which grow about a foot and an half high. The top is terminated by a single yellow flower, composed of many florets, like those of the dandelion. These are succeeded by oblong seeds, which are covered with down. 2. The scorpioides, with sawed leaves growing alternately, is a native of Bohemia and Siberia. The roots of this sort are much jointed, and divide into many irregular fleety off-sorts, which are variously contorted; from whence some superstitious persons have imagined that they would expel the poison of scorpions, and cure the wounds made by the sting of that animal.

Culture. The first species delights in a moist shady situation; it may be propagated by parting the roots in autumn when the stalks begin to decay; or by the seeds sown in autumn soon after they are ripe, for those sown in the spring often fail. The second sort is to be propagated in the same manner. Both are very hardy, and require no other care than to be kept free from weeds.

Medicinal Uses. The montana has an acrid bitter taste, and when bruised, emits a pungent odour, which excites sneezing. On this account the country people in some parts of Germany use it in snuff, and smoke it like tobacco. It was formerly represented as a remedy of great efficacy against effusions and suffusions of blood, from falls, bruises, or the like; and it was then also mentioned as a remedy in jaundice, gout, nephritis, &c., but in these affections it is now very little, if at all employed.

Of late it has been principally recommended in paralytic affections, and in cases where a loss or diminution of feeling arises from an affection of the nerves, as in instances of amaurosis. In these it has chiefly been employed under the form of infusion. From a dram to half an ounce of the flowers has been directed to be infused in a pint of boiling water, and taken in different doses in the course of the day; sometimes it produces vomiting, sometimes sweating, sometimes diarrhoea; but frequently its use is attended with no sensible operation, unless it can be considered as such, that in some cases cases of paralysis, the cure is said to be preceded by a peculiar prickling, and by shooting pains in the affected parts.

Besides being employed in paralytic affections, it has also been of late represented as a very powerful antispasmodic; and it is said to have been successfully employed in fevers, particularly those of the intermittent kind, and likewise in cases of gangrene. In these diseases it has been said to prove as efficacious as the Peruvian bark, when employed under the form of a pretty strong decoction taken in small doses frequently repeated, or under the form of an electuary with honey.

But as these alleged virtues have not been confirmed by any trials made in Britain, its real influence still remains to be determined by future observations. It is, however, one of those active substances from which something may be expected.