294 MONOPETALEZ—HYPOCOROLLE®. 
posites The extreme twigs of Woody Nightshade or 
Bitter-Sweet (Solanum Dulcamara) and S. nigrum, are nar- 
cotic, diaphoretic, and diuretic, but little used: an excellent 
bitter and tonic, said to be nearly equal to that of Cinchona, 
is obtained from the Solanum pseudo-quina. Solanum also 
contains a vegetable alkali (Solanine). The herb and 
seeds of Thorn Apple (Datura Stramonium) are of a some- 
what similar nature ; smoking the plant has been recommend- 
ed during the paroxysm of asthma. _ Mr. Brandes has 
found in D. Stramonium a vegetable alkali (Daturine), on 
which its properties seem to depend. Datura Tatula and 
Datura ferox have similar properties. Physalis somnifera 
is narcotic. The fruit of the Winter Cherry (Physalis 
Alkenkengi ), is diuretic. The'leaves of the Tobacco plant, 
(Nicotiana Tabacum) are narcotic, catharic, emetic, diure- 
tic, or errhine, according to the mode in which they are em- 
ployed. Their use in the form of snuff or for smoking, is 
well known. The fruit of Capsicum annuum is an active sti- 
mulant and carminative, and is said to be destitute of any 
narcotic property. The leaves of the Mullein (Verbascum 
Thapsus) are gently anodyne and emollient. 
Officinal Planis. 
Atropa Belladonna. Nicotiana Tabacum. 
Solanum Dulcamara. Verbascum Thapsus. 
Hyoscyamus niger. Capiscum annuum. 
_____Daturus Stramonium. 
_ Porsonous Propertres.—All the plants of the above list, 
__ violent nareotic poisons. The Mandragore, a powerful poi- 
son, is a species of Atropa (A. mandragora :) the root is 
_ the most dangerous part of the plant, but the fruit is also 
poisonous. The berries of the A. Belladonna have some- 
_ times proved fatal to children. The volatile oil obtained 
from the leaves of Tobacco is a most virulent poison, and — 
sed by the Hottentots to poison snakes: ote eee 
cept —— 
