Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

Date:
1844
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    Glasgow University Library I^JCC ' U-k 5 . J PROCEEDINGS * <P 1°I42-I + or TH* ROYAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH. 1844. No. 23. Monday, 4th December 1843. Sir THOMAS BRISBANE, President, in the Chair. The following communication was read:— On the Influence of various Circumstances in Vegetation upon the activity of Plants. Part. II. The Umbelli- ferous Narcotics. By Dr Christison. In the liret Part of this inquiry, the author gave an account, in 1840, of some observations made by him, as to the influence of seLon on the activity of the acrid plants of the natural family Ranuncnlacetc, and of the narcotics belonging to the family Drwpaceee* In the Second Part now laid before the Society, he proceeded to relate a senes of experiments instituted by him with the view of determining the influence of season on the activity of the poisonous narcotic plants of the family Umbelliferte. The plants belonging to this family arc for the most part aroma- tic and stimulant, and destitute of poisonous properties. In four species only have narcotic properties been unequivocally recognised, viz., Coniummaculatum, (Enanthe crocata, Cicuta virosa, Mid JEthusa Cynapium; but these are universally held to bo highly energetic. 1. Comum maculatum, Common Hemlock.—No accurate infor- mation is yet possessed as to the influence of season on the activity of this species; for all investigations on the subject are vitiated by the uncertain strength of its preparations, and the ignorance which prevailed till very lately as to the conditions required for securing * the Society’s Proceedings, 1840-41.