THORN-APPLE. 307 



and know how to temper it in such a manner, 

 that its effects shall last for a certain time, or for 

 as many hours as they please. 



Indian princes have been known to make use 

 of it to render their rivals stupid, and then to 

 expose them to the people, to show how inca- 

 pable they are to govern. 



Waller observes, in his Domestic Herbal, that 

 the fumes of this plant, received like those of 

 tobacco, have, in no instance that he had heard 

 of, been productive of any ill effects, whilst at 

 the same time, he says he has gften witnessed 

 the most beneficial results from its use in this 

 manner, in asthmas, and old inveterate coughs. 

 Some persons smoke the Stramonium alone, 

 others mix it with tobacco; the best method, 

 however, in our estimation, says Mr. Waller, is 

 a mixture of one third part of the stalks, fruit, 

 leaves, and seeds of the Stramonium, properly 

 dried, cut, and bruised, mixed with two thirds of 

 herb tobacco. 



An ointment prepared from the leaves of the 

 Stramonium, gives ease in external inflammations 

 and hsemorrhoids. 



This plant is unquestionably a native of Ame- 

 rica ; Kalm says that in many parts of that ex- 

 tensive country it is one of the most troublesome 



X 2 



