Asarabacca, in botany, the Asarum Europoem, L. is an English, though rare* plant, growing in the northern woody parts of this island. A good representation of it is given in Dr. Woodville's '. Bot. P1. 6(5. It produces large bell-shaped flowers of a dusky purple colour, and blossoms in the beginning of Mar.

* It is extremely scarce. Ray observes, in his Latin History of British Plants, p. 207, that be found it in some woods in Lancashire.

As a medicine, the different properties of this plant render it an object of attention: hence Lin-/opesed it as a substitute for ipecacuanha ; and, according to Dr. Cullen-, "the root, dried only so much as to be powdered, proves in a moderate dose a gentle erne-tic." But as the internal use of the asarabacca is precarious, the London College have justly rejected the root, and directed the leaves only to be employed as an errhhie, or sneezing powder, with the addi-tion of one half of dried lavender-flowers. Thus carefully prepared, and snuffed in small doses of a few grains, several successive evenings, Dr. WOODVILLE says, "it produces a pretty large watery discharge, which sometimes continues several days together; and by which, head-ach, tooth-ach, opthalmia or inflammation of the eyes, as well as some paralytic and soporific complaints, have been effectually relieved." That such is the effect of this powder, we have frequently observed from experience, though there is reason to doubt whether its action extends to palsy, as it more particularly affects the salival glands, which is obvious from the copious spitting it generally occasions, after being used for a few evenings.

In farriery, the powdered root of this plant is given mixed with bran, to horses troubled with the farcy, or leprosy, in doses from one to two ounces;—as likewise for worms in either horses or sheep.

Dyers may also usefully employ the fresh leaves or roots of the asa-rabacca, for producing first an apple-green, and by boiling them still Jonger, a light-brown colour, on wool prepared with bismuth. These experiments are related by Dam-bourney, whose work we first quoted, p. 19.