472 SOLANUM DULCAMARA. 
both, though most from the water. The chemic- 
al evidences of astringency were very slight. 
From the experiments of Hartmann and Kuhn, 
cited by Murray, we may infer that water is a 
better solvent for this plant than alcohol. An 
ounce of the twigs or stalks treated with alcohol 
afforded two drachms and two scruples of extract. 
The same quantity treated with water gaye three 
drachms and. thirty five grains. 
The Solanum duleamara has formerly receiy- 
ed the commendations of many authors, some of 
whose names are of high authority in medicine. 
The diseases in which it has acquired confidence, 
are chronic rheumatism, gout, secondary syphilis, 
incipient phthisis,’ asthma, jaundice. But what- 
ever may be its efficacy in these complaints, it has 
in modern practice given place to more active 
medicines. Its most permanent and merited rep- 
utation at the present day, is deriyed from its ap- 
plication to external complaints, and particularly 
to cutaneous diseases. In dissertations upon the 
properties of this plant by Linneus and by Car- 
rere, its use is highly commended in herpes, in 
scabies, and in some of the secondary forms of 
syphilis. Professor Murray has added his own 
testimony to that of these writers, and speaks de- 
