HEMLOCK**: A genus of the digynia order, belonging to the pentandria clas of plants; and in the natural method ranking under the 45th order, Umbellate. The partial involucra are halved, and mostly triplobious; the fruit subgloboso and quinque-striated, the striae crenated on each side. The species are three; 1. The maculatum, or greater hemlock, grows naturally on the sides of banks and roads in many parts of Britain. It is a biennial plant which perishes after it has ripened its seeds. It hath a long taper root like a parsnip, but smaller. The stalk is smooth, spotted with purple, and rises from four to upwards of six feet high; branching out toward the top into several smaller stalks, garnished with decomposed leaves, whose lobes are cut at the top into three parts; these are of a lucid green, and have a disagreeable smell. The stalks are terminated by umbels of white flowers, each being composed of about ten rays or small umbels, and have a great number of flowers, which spread open, each fitting upon a distinct footstalk; the seeds are small and channelled, and like those of aniseed. It flowers in June, and the seeds ripen in autumn. 2. The *tenuifolium*, with striated seeds, differs from the first in having taller stalks, which are not so much spotted. The leaves are much narrower, and of a paler green; and this difference is constant. It is a biennial plant, and grows naturally in Germany.

3. The *africanum*, with prickly seeds, is a native of the Cape of Good Hope. The plant rarely grows above nine inches high; the lower leaves are divided like those of the small wild rye, and are of a greyish colour; those upon the stalk are narrower, but of the same colour; these are terminated by umbels of white flowers, each of the larger umbels being composed of three small ones; the involucrum hath three narrow leaves situated under the umbel. This flowers in July and ripens seed in autumn, soon after which the plants decay.

**Medicinal Uses.** The first species is sometimes applied externally, in the form of decoction, infusion, or poultice, as a diuretic. These are apt to excoriate, and their vapour is to some particularly disagreeable, and hurtful. The stalks are insignificant, and the roots very virulent. With regard to its virtue when taken internally, it has been generally accounted poisonous; which it doubtless is, in a high degree, when used in any considerable quantity. But Dr Stoerk has lately found, that in certain small doses it may be taken with great safety; and that, without at all disordering the constitution, or even producing any sensible operation, it sometimes proves a powerful resolvent in many obstinate disorders. In scirrhus, the internal and external use of hemlock has been found useful, but then mercury has been generally used at the same time. In open cancer, it often abates the pains, and is free from the constipating effects of opium. It is likewise used in scrophulous tumors and ulcers, and in other ulcers that are only defined by the term ill-conditioned. It is also recommended by some in chincough, and various other diseases. Its common, and perhaps best form, is that of the powdered leaves, in the dose at first of two or three grains a-day, which in some cases has been gradually increased to upwards of two ounces a-day, without producing giddiness. An extract from the seeds is said to produce giddiness sooner than that from the leaves. Hence, while both the London and Edinburgh colleges have given a place to the *succus spissatus cicuta* into the pharmacopoeia of the latter an *extractum feminum cicuta* is also introduced.