ing some sense of heat, effects which are followed by proportis 
HYOSCYAMUS NIGER. 
a net-work of purple veins. The filaments are inserted into the 
tube of the corolla tapering, downy at the base, and supporting 
purple anthers. The style is purplish, with a blunt, round, 
stigma, The capsule is globular, invested with the body of the 
calyx, bilocular, and closed with a convex smooth lid. 
The whole plant. is covered with soft, white’ hairs, feels 
clammy and slightly adhesive. It emits a fetid odor; is of a 
sea-green hue, and poisonous when eaten. 
A species of bug (Cimex) and of beetle (Chrysomela) take 
their specific names from feeding on this plant; but no quadru- 
ped is known to eat it, unless the ont and sheep, and that very 
rarely and sparingly. 
The Henbane is a hardy plant, of common culture ; it grows 
in loam and peat, and cuttings root without being covered by a 
glass. 
CHEMICAL AND MEDICAL PROPERTIES AND USES. 
_ The virtues of Hyocyamus Nicer are completely extracted by 
diluted alcohol. The watery infusion is of a very pale yellow 
color and insipid, and has the narcotic odor of the plant. It is 
not altered by the acids. The alkalies change the color to a 
deep greenish yellow, which, on the addition of an acid, disap- 
pears, and a brownish flocculent precipitate is produced. It is 
copiously precipitated by solutions of acetate of lead, white; by 
nitrate of silver, black; sulphate of iron strikes with it a pale eS 
olive color, and a dark precipitate is slowly formed. T ge 
Henbane appears to contain resin, mucus, extractive, a peculiar es 
alkaline salt, and gallic acid. M. M. Metssner and Branpes have — 
examined the nature of this alkaline salt, which they have 
named Hyociama, and have ascertained that on it depends the — 
peculiar virtues and the poisonous properties of this plant. The — 
seeds contain a larger proportion of this alkaloid than either the __ 
leaves or the roots; it isin the form of a malate. It crystal~ ae 
lizes in long prisms, and forms neutral salts with the acids. 
Henzane is narcotic. Tts operation is very similar to that of = 
opium ; increasing at first the strength of the pulse, and produc- a 
diminution of excitement a 
. ‘diaphoresis or diuresis, and 
other” times it pocetly and in 
d'sleep. In some habits it oc 
it 
