223 HOBTUS JAMAICENSISi raotro 



In the Jamaica Medial Assistant it is noticed, that Dr. Hufelano 1 , in his account of 

 small-pox, says he has Found the tincture of the seeds of the thorn-apple a narcotic re- 

 medy superior to laudanum, and that he has cured by it many obstinate coinpLiuts of 

 the mental and convulsive kind. An ointment prepared from the leaves gives ease \a 

 haemorrhoids or piles. Could the extract be substituted for that of hemlock, which is 

 not to be kept good long in this climate ? An extract is directed l>v the Edinburgh 

 college, which is given in convulsions and epilepsies. An extract maybe made by 

 boiling any quantity of the bruised seeds in water, then evaporating the strained liquor, 

 &c. Dose gr. to 1 gr. Tliis extract given in small doses, is cooling, diuretic, and 

 anodyne; it renders the pulse slower ; in large doses it occasions a loss of vision and 

 speech, palsey, &c See Dr. King, Med. and Phys Jour. 



In the Monthly Magazine, for June, 1810, a case of severe spasmodic asthma is re- 

 lated, which was cured by smoking the root of this plant; after every other remedy 

 had been tried in vain. The writer, who signs Vera r, describes his case as follows: 

 4( His complaint was brought on by free living, the asthmatic paroxysm usually came 

 on about two o'clock in the morning, when I was suddenly surprised from sleep with violent 

 convulsive hcavings of the chest ; ami I was scarcely allowed time to place myself up- 

 Tight in a chair, where I sat resting myself upon my elbows, and with my feet upon 

 the ground (for I could not bear them in an horizontal posture) before I underwent a. 

 sense as it were of immediate suffocation. The fits generally continued, with short in- 

 termissions, from thirty-six hours to three days and nights successively ; during which 

 time, 1 have often, in the seeming agonies of death, given myself over, and even wished 

 for that termination of my miseries. I consulted the most eminent physicians in vain. 

 An amiable friend and most respectable surgeon at Hackney, first persuaded me to 

 smoke the divine stramonium, tc which I owe altogether my present freedom from 

 pain, and renewed capacity of enjoyment. It is the root only and lower part of the 

 stem of this plant, which seem to possess its anti-asthmatic virtue ; these should be cut 

 into small pieces, and put into a common tobacco pipe, and the smoke must be swal- 

 lowed, together with the saliva produced by the smoke ; after which the sufferer will 

 in a few minutes be relieved from all convulsive heavings, and probably drop into a com- 

 fortable sleep, from which he will awake refreshed, and in general perfectly recovered: 

 at least this is the invariable effect produced upon myself. He should by all means avoid 

 drinking with the pipe. A dish of coffee I always take after it, and find it highly re- 

 freshing. I have taken a dozen pipes at a time, without experiencing from them any 

 other inconvenience than a slight excoriation or soreness of the tongue. This has pre- 

 served me from the visitation of asthmatic horrors, after having been subject to perio- 

 dical attacks for several years ; and I have now enjo , ed a perfect state of freedom from 

 this species of misery for ma 1 iy months." From another letter from the same writer, 

 which appears in the Monthly Magazine for January, 181 1, it is stated that the stramo- 

 nium was in such repute for asthmatic cases, as to be sold for 1 1. 4s. per lb. In this 

 letter he mentions that the hero should be dried gradually, the mould brushed off the 

 roots, which are afterwards cat into small pieces, and put into a common tobacco pipe; 

 the smoke to be forced into the stomach by swallowing. He adds that the stalk is equally 

 efficacious with the root. 



There are three sorts of this plant. One hath a very white flower. Of this sort I 

 saw growing in a garden in Colchester, above forty years ago : the surgeon who had it 

 tnade both salves and ointments of it, the use of which gamed him much credit ; and 



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