DATURA STRAMONIUM, 
Daturine. It is nearly insoluble in water and in cold alcohol, 
but boiling alcohol dissolves it, and in cooling lets it fall in 
floceuli. It is crystallized with difficulty, but has been ob- 
tained in quadrangular crystals. It forms neutral salts with 
the acids. The medicinal virtues of the herb are extracted 
both by water and alcohol. The watery infusion is transpar- 
ent, with a very pale-yellow hue, which is dissipated by acids, 
but very much deepened by the alkalies. It throws down 
whitish precipitates with acetate and superacetate of lead, 
and a black precipitate with nitrate of silver. Solution of 
sulphate of iron strikes a deep olive color, and muriate of 
mercury renders it milky, but neither is precipitated till after 
a very considerable time. 
Thorn- Apple is narcotic and stimulant. Baron Stoerck first 
recommended it as an internal remedy in cases of mania and 
epilepsy. Numerous cases have been recorded in which it 
has proved a benefit in these diseases, but the general result of 
the practice has not been satisfactory, and it is now considered 
rather as useful in allaying the excessive mobility of the sys- 
tem, than as tending to the absolute cure of the complaint. 
Its good effects have been more marked in asthma, especially 
of the spasmodic kind, used as an inhalation by smoking or 
otherwise. It requires, however, much caution in its use. Dr. 
Bigelow has given some very judicious remarks on its em- 
ployment, and others may be found in Dr. Dunglison’s prac- 
tice of medicine. Dr. Barton regards it as a remedy of great 
efficacy. He found that when the dose of the dried herb was 
gradually increased to thirty grains, it dilated the pupil, and 
produced paralysis of the eyelids, effects which were removed 
by a blister. Dr. Marcet, who experimented largely with this 
remedy, observes that many kinds of painful diseases were 
more relieved by it when used internally, than by any other 
narcotic; that its effects on the bowels were rather relaxing 
than astringent, and that the great objection to its employ- 
ment was the occasional production of disagreeable nervous 
symptoms. 
_ Cataplasms of the bruised fresh leaves have been success- 
fully as an application to inflammatory tumors, and for 
discussing masses of indurated milk in the breasts of nursing 
women. An ointment made with the powdered leaves has 
afforded much relief in hemorrhoids and painful ulcers. This 
ointment has also been recommended in nymphomania to 
_ Jessen venereal excitement. 
_ All parts of the plant are used, but the seeds, from contain- 
_ ing most daturine, are the most powerful. The dose of the 
powdered leaves is one grain; of the seeds, half a grain; of 
ract of the seeds, a quarter of a grain; that from the 
ure, ten to twenty drops,—all to 
as 3 
