This plant, which has derived its name from the dark colour of the root, is a native of Austria, the Apennines, and Italy; it has, however, obtained a place in our gardens,[405] and from the circumstance of its flowering from December till March, it has acquired the name of the christmas rose. The fibres of the roots are the parts employed in medicine; their odour is fœtid, and their taste bitter and acrid. Its action upon the animal œconomy is similar to that of the preceding species. _Morgagni_ relates the history of a person who took half a drachm of black hellebore, and expired eight hours afterwards. _M. Orfila_ states that inflammation of the rectum is a constant occurrence, where the animals who have taken this root, have survived its administration for a few hours. FŒTID HELLEBORE. _Helleborus Fœtidus._ _Helleboraster._ This plant is a native of England, growing in shady places, on a chalky soil, and flowering in March and April. Like the former species of hellebore, it is capable of producing fatal effects. A case is related in the _London Chronicle_, 1768, no. 1760, of a child who died in consequence of taking the root of this plant in the pulp of an apple. ELATERIUM. _Wild_, or _squirting Cucumber_. _Momordica Elaterium_ (Monæcia Monadelphia. _Nat. Ord._ Cucurbitaceæ.) This plant is a perennial native of the south of Europe, flowering in June and July; it is cultivated in England, but does not survive the severity of our winters. The fruit (_poma_) has the appearance of a small oval cucumber, of a greyish colour, and covered with prickles. When fully ripe it quits the peduncal, and casts out the seed and juice, with great force, and to a considerable distance, through the hole in the base where the foot-stalk is inserted, whence the name of _squirting_ cucumber. The author has instituted numerous experiments upon this plant, the results of which will be found fully detailed, under its history, in the fifth edition of his Pharmacologia. The plant appears, from the testimony of _Dioscorides_, and other writers, to have been employed by the ancient physicians with much confidence and success as a cathartic; all the parts of the plant were considered as purgative, although not in an equal degree; thus _Geoffroy_, “_radicum vis cathartica major est quam foliorum, minor vero quam fructuum_.” This question, however, has been very lately set at rest, by the valuable experiments of _Dr. Clutterbuck_,[406] which prove that the active principle of this plant resides more particularly in the juice which is lodged in the centre of the fruit. The forensic physician, however, will scarcely be liable to meet with a case of poisoning by the fruit of this plant. It is from that preparation of the juice, which is admitted into our Pharmacopœia, under the title of _Extract of Elaterium_, that we may expect to meet with mischief.