the larynx-ulcerations which it is desirable to arrest at once, I have not hesitated to apply directly to the diseased parts a solution of double the strength of the last named. But one or two applications only of a medicine of this power should be made at one time; ordinarily, however extensive the lesions may be, it will not be necessary to employ a solution of greater strength than one composed of four scruples of the salt to an ounce of water. On the other hand, it has been found that one of less strength than of from forty to fifty grains of the nitrate to an ounce of fluid will have but little effect upon a diseased mucous surface, where ulcerations exist.

"In cases in which it becomes necessary to cauterize the interior of the laryngeal cavity, the aperture of the glottis should not be passed at once; the part should be educated by applying the solution daily for several days to the faucial and pharyngeal region, to the epiglottis and about the opening of the glottis.

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Proceeding in this manner, that exquisite sensibility which belongs to the lips of the glottis is in a good degree overcome, and the instrument may then be passed into the larynx without producing half the amount of that irritation which its introduction below the epiglottis would have awakened at first.

"The instrument which I have always employed for making direct medicinal applications into the cavity of the larynx is one composed of whalebone about ten inches in length, (with, or without the handle, as represented in the plate) curved at one end, to which is securely attached a small round piece of fine sponge.

"The extent to which the rod is to be bent must be varied according to circumstances, for the opening of the glottis is situated much deeper in some throats, than in others; but the curve which I have found suited to the greatest number of cases is one which will form the arc of one quarter of a circle, whose diameter is four inches. (See plate VII. fig. I.)

"The instrument being prepared, and the patient's mouth opened wide and his tongue depressed, the sponge is dipped into the solution to be applied, and being carried over the top of the epiglottis and on the laryngeal face of this cartilage, is suddenly pressed downwards and forwards through the aperture of the glottis into the laryngeal cavity.

"This operation is followed by a momentary spasm of the glottis, by which the fluid is discharged from the sponge, and is brought into immediate contact with the diseased surface.

"Every physician who has been present when this operation has been performed, (and a large number have witnessed it from time to time,) has manifested much surprise on observing how little irritation has been produced by the introduction of the sponge.

"If the patient, on opening his mouth, take a full inspiration, and then be directed to breathe gently out at the moment in which the sponge is introduced the irritation caused by the application will be much less than when this caution is not observed. The fact, indeed, has been fully established by repeated experiments, that the introduction into the larynx of a sponge saturated with a solution of the crystals of nitrate of silver, of the strength of forty, fifty or even sixty grains of the salt to the ounce of water, does not produce, ordinarily, as much disturbance as is caused Ly the accidental imbibition into this cavity, of a few drops of tea, or even of pure water!

"In the topical treatment of the follicular disease it will be found that all larynges cannot be entered with the same facility. Indeed, in some instances where dema of the epiglottis and of the arytenoid cartilages has existed, I have found it very difficult, in making the first attempt, to pass the sponge of the probang through the aperture of the glottis."

Under the head of general remedies, he gives directions for using the following, accompanied by illustrative cases, viz: nitrate of silver; iodine; mercury; prussic acid; muriate of ammonia, and change of

climate. For his remarks on these we must refer the reader to the work, as our limits are exhausted.

We must here close; but we cannot do so without expressing our decided approbation of both the principles and practice laid down by Dr. Green, and urging our Southern readers to supply themselves with his valuable work. It may be had of S. Woodall, 49 Camp street.

E. D. F.

II. Materia Medica and Therapeutics; including the Preparations of the Pharmacopoeias, &c., with many new Medicines. By J. FORBES ROYLE, M. D., F. R. S., &c., Professor of Materia Medica and Therapeutics, King's College, London. Edited by JOSEPH CARSON, M. D., &c. Philadelphia. Lea & Blanchard. 1847. 8vo., 689. The author of this book has already won a high reputation as a scientific man, by his "Illustrations of Himalayan Botany ;" and by researches into the medical history of Hindoston, the results of which have not, yet been published in full, but we must all hope that this work, entitled an "Essay on the antiquity of Hindoo Medicine," will not remain long, as it yet does, in the manuscript form. Many of the interesting things brought to light by these researches are now published in the present volume, and give new interest to many of the articles of the Materia Medica. Indeed, as far as the ancient history of many of these articles, of Asiatic origin is concerned, the Materia Medica of Professor Royle is more full of interest than any work that has come to our notice. He seems to have pursued every mode of research that could possibly throw any light upon his subject, and his accurate personal observation is invaluable in elucidating this previously obscure subject.

This work was prepared at the instance of Mr. Churchill, an eminent publisher, who brings it, out as one of his excellent series of medical manuals. The arrangement of the work is good; the medicinal substances are arranged according to the natural system, and each substance considered in reference to its history, its physical and chemical properties, preparation, tests, action, uses and doses. All of these are briefly sketched in a concise and lucid manner, and in a way to show that a master hand was employed in the task.

This work, though apparently designed as a text book for students, is much better adopted to the use of those already familiar with the subject, as in the condensation of his matter, the author has been obliged to omit much that is highly important to the student. The physiological relations and effects of medicines are matters of the first consequence to the student in the acquisition of correct notions respecting their therapeutical properties and applications. In this respect this work is decidedly defective, so much so in fact, as to exclude it from competition, as a text book, with that of Pereira, or Wood and Bache's Dispensatory.— But to those who desire the latest information respecting the history and general relations of medicines, especially those of Asiatic origin, this work will prove highly satisfactory.

As examples of the authors description, &c., we may quote the following:

"ASSAFOETIDA, L. E. D. (U. S.) Gummi Resina, L. D. Gummy-resinous Exudation (E.) of NARTHEX (Ferula, Linn.) ASSAFOETIDA, Falconer. Assafoetida. "Assafœtida, a product of Persia and Affghanistan, is mentioned in the ancient Sanscrit Amera Cosha. The ancients highly esteemed a gum-resin which the Romans called laser, and the Greeks oos xvpnvaïxòe, or the Cyrenaic juice, from being produced in that region. The prov yielding it was an umbellifer, and is represented on the coins of Cyrene. It has been discovered of late years, and named Thapsia Silphium. This laser had become scarce even in the time of Pliny, who as well as Dioscorides describes another kind as obtained from Persia, India, and Armenia, which was probably the same that was known to the Hindoos. Avicenna describes hulteet as of two kinds: one, of good odour, from Chiruana (Cyrene?) and the other fætid, the present assa-fœtida.— The term assa is no doubt of oriental origin, since it is applied to other gumresins. Thus Benzoin is called hussee-looban; it used to be called assa dulcis in old works. Dr. Lindley has received the seeds of a ferula called hooshee.Anjedan, the fruits or seeds (pov of the greeks,) is usually translated laserpitium. The plant is called angoozeh by the Arabs. The root of silphion is described by Arrion as affording food to herds of cattle on Paropamisus.

"Assafoetida is produced in the dry Southern provinces of Persia, as in the mountains of Fars and of Beloochistan, but chiefly in Khorassan and Affghanistan; likewise to the north of the Hindoo Khoosh range of mountains, where it was found by Burnes and also by Wood's expedition to the Oxus. (c.) Dr. Falconer found it in Astore, introduced the plant into the Saharunpore Botanic Garden, as mentioned in the author's "Product. Resources of India," p. 223, and has obtained from it a small quantity of assafoetida. He also sent home numerous seeds, which were distributed from the India House to several gardens; but the author has not heard whether any plants have been produced from them. But he has no doubt that some of those which the author is informed by his friend Dr. Christison are still in the Edinburgh Botanic Garden, were produced from these seeds, and not from those sent by Sir John M'Neill. The assafætida is conveyed on camels into India across both the Punjab and Bhawulpore, and is sold in large quantities at the Hurdwar Fair. It is also conveyed down the Indus and by the Persian Gulf to Bombay.

Two or three kinds of fruit called seeds are met with, which are said to be those of the assafoetida plant; but there is no proof that more than one plant yields assafoetida. Dr. Falconer, an excellent botanist, after examining the original specimens, considers the plant he saw in Astore to be the same as that figured by Kæmpfer; and Dr. G. Grant, who saw the plant at Syghan, says, as stated by Dr. Christison, that its roots, leaves, and flowering stem correspond on the whole with Kampfer's description, except that the root is deeply divided, like the outspread hand. The E. P. assign ferula persica as probably yielding some assafetida. There is no doubt that its seed has been sent from the Northwest of Persia as those of the assafoetida plant: but there is no proof, nor indeed is it probable, that it yields any of the assafoetida of commerce. The gumresins of these umbelliferæ are too similar to each other, for any but experienced pharmacologists to determine between inferior assafoetida and varieties of sagapenum or other gum-resins.

"As Dr. Falconer, the author's friend and successor as superintendent of the East India Company's Botanic Garden at Saharunpore, has had excellent opportunities for examining the assafoetida plant, both in its native sites and as cultivated by himself, he has favoured the author with the following full account of this important plant, which he conceives belongs to a genus allied to, but distinct from ferula."

*

"Narther, both in the characters of the flowers and fruit, and in its "pæonyleaved" habit, differs widely from any known species of ferula, and appears to constitute a distinct and well-marked genus.

"In the Dardoh or Dangree language (the Dardohs being the Daradi of Arrian) the plant is called "sip" or "sup." The young shoots of the stem in spring are prized as an excellent and delicate vegetable.

"The species would appear to occur in the greatest abundance in the provinces of Khorassan and Laar in Persia, and thence to extend on the one hand into the plains of Toorkestan on the Oxus north of the Hindoo Khoosh mountains, where it seems to have been met with by Sir Alex. Burnes,* and on the other to stretch across from Beloochistan, through Candahar and other provinces of Afghanistan to the Eastern side of the valley of the Indus, where it stops in Astore, and does not occur in great abundance. The whole of this region, which constitutes the head-quarters of the gum-bearing umbelliferæ, possesses the common character of an excessively dry climate, indicated in Berghaus's hygrometric map in Johnson's Physical Atlas by a belt of white.

Besides the gum-risen, the fruit of narthex assafatida is imported into India from Persia and Affghanistan, under the name of "anjoodan," being extensively employed by the native physicians in India: "anjoodan" being the epithet applied to the seed of the "heengseh," or "hulteet." by Avicenna, also quoted by Kæmpfer, and used by the Indo-Persian and Arabic writers generally in describing the assafoetida plant. Another umbelliferous fruit is also imported with it, and sold under the name of "dooqoo" (a word evidently connected with the dauxos of the Greeks,) being recommended as an excellent substitute for "Anjoodan," which it closely resembles in its general appearance. This I found to be the fruit of a species of true ferula; it is one of the two assafœtida-like fruits mentioned by Dr. Royle as occurring in the bazaars of nothern India.— The species of ferula yielding this fruit may furnish some one of the obscurelyknown gum-resins resembling assafoetida produced in Persia.

"I have examined another kind of umbelliferous fruit in the collection of Dr. Royle, labelled as "the seed of the wild Assafœtida plant collected and brought to England by Sir J. Macneill from Persia," which differs widely from the fruit both of narthex and of ferula, and belongs to another tribe of the order." H.F.

"Assafœtida is obtained by making incisions into or taking successive slices off the top of the root, and then collecting the produce, which is then united in masses, and in this state is usually met with in commerce. It is at first rather soft, but becomes hard, of a yellowish or reddish-brown colour. When broken, an irregular, whitish, somewhat shining surface is displayed, which soon becomes red. The mass is composed of various-shaped pieces, some like tears pressed together, and in some parts agglutinated together by darker-coloured gum-resin. Some parts are cellular. By thus becoming red on exposure to the air, and its intolerable alliaceous odour, assafoetida may be readily distinguished. The taste is garlicky, bitter, and acrid. It is best preserved covered by bladder. It is powdered with difficulty, even when become hard; softens by heat, and burns with a clear flame. Assafoetida is composed of Resin 65 parts, volatile oil 3.6, gum 19.44, bassorin 11.66, salts 0.30, (Pelletier.)— Brandes obtained less resin, volatile oil 4.6, and 10.5 of various salts and impurities. The oil is at first colourless, but becomes yellowish-brown, has an exceedingly offensive odour, a bitter and acrid taste, and contains some sulphur. Water will dissolve the gum, and form an emulsion with the other ingredients. Alcohol or rectified spirit is a good solvent, but an emulsion is formed when the solution is added to water. Ether dissolves the oil and all the resin, except about 2 per cent. of a peculiar kind. Ammonia also takes up the active ingredients.

• Burnes mentions the plant as an annual, probably in consequence of the annual decay of the stems. He states that sheep browse on the young shoots.

Action. Uses. Stimulant, antispasmodic; thought to be emmenagogue and anthelmintic. Much used as a condiment in the East. Useful in spasmodic and convulsive diseases, as hysteria and chorea, also in hooping-cough, flatulent colic, and in chronic-cough."

CANNABIS SATIVA and its variety C. indica. The Leaves and Resin of Hemp. The hemp appears to be a plant of the Persian region, where it is subjected to great cold in winter, and to considerable heat in summer. It has thus been able to travel on one hand into Europe, and on the other into India; so that the varieties produced by climate have by some been thought to be distinct species, the European being called C. sativa, and the Indian C. indica. The name xavaßis, by which it was known to the Greeks, seems to be derived from the Arabic kinnub, the canape of the middle ages, Dutch kinnup and hinnup, German hanf, whence the English hemp. Herodotus mentions it as Scythian. Bieberstein met with it in Tauria and the Caucasian region. It is well known in Bokhara, Persia, and abundant in the Himalayas. It seems to have been employed as an intoxicating substance in Asia and Egyyt from very early times, and even in medicine in Europe in former times, as we find it noticed in Dale (Pharmacologia, i. 133) and Murray (Apparat. Medicamnium, iv. p. 608 -620.) where it is arranged, as in this work, next to the Humulus. It has of late years been brought into European notice by Dr. O'Shaughnessy.

“The Indian plant has by some been thought to be a species distinct from the European one; but, like Dr. Roxburgh and others, the author was unable when in India to observe any difference between the plant of the plains and that of the hills of India, nor between these and the European plant. The Indian secretes a much larger proportion of resin than is observable in the European plant, but a difference is observed in this point in India between plants grown in the plains, and those of the mountains, and also when grown thickly together. The natives plant them wide apart, to enable them to secrete their full powers. In Europe, the thick sowing, and moister, often dull, climate will prevent the due secretion of the peculiar principles of a plant of the Persian region. But the plants grown in the past season, from the great heat and light, ought to be more resinous than usual. It is not without interest to observe that both the hop and hemp, belonging to the group Cannabine, owe their properties to glandular resinous secretions. The author, in calling attention to the uses of this plant, in his Illust. of Himalayan Botany, stated that “the leaves are sometimes smoked in India, and occasionally added to tobacco, but are chiefly employed for making bhang and subzee, of which the intoxicating powers are so well known. But a peculiar substance is yielded by the plants on the hills, in the form of a glandular secretion, which is collected by the natives pressing the upper part of the young plant between the palms of their hands, and then scraping off the secretion which adheres. This is well known in India by the name of cherrus, and is considered more intoxicating than any other preparation of the plant; which is so highly esteemed by many Asiatics, and serves them both for wine and opium: it has in consequence a variety of names applied to it in Arabic, some of which were translated to me as grass of faqueers," "leaf of delusion," "increaser of pleasure," "exciter of desire," "cementer of friendship," &c. Linnæus was well acquainted with its "vis narcotica, phantastica, dementens" (anodyna et repellens.) It is as likely as any other to have been the Nepenthes of Homer. (l. c. p. 334.)*

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"Dr. O'Shaughnessy has described in detail the different preparations, as1. Churrus, the concreted resinous exudation from the leaves, slender stems, and flowers. This is collected in various ways; that of the Himalayas much

* Dr. O'S. states that "no information as to the medicinal effects of hemp exists in the standard writers on Materia Medica to which we have access." It is only in the later writers that it is omitted. Linnæus was acquainted with them, as the author quoted in the above briefly, as being a botanical work.