•i58 



SULANACEi^. 



The root further contains, according to Ricliter (18:37) and Hiil^'^ch- 

 niann, a fluorescent substance, as well as a red colouring matter called 

 At rosin} The latter occurs in greatest abundance in the fruit, and 

 would probably repay further investigation. 



Uses^Belladonna root is chiefly used for the preparation of atro- 



t 



Adulteration — We 



o 



liniment 

 pains 



micrucarpay M, officinariimi, and M. vemalis Bertoloni are very nearly 

 allied to the root under notice, both in external appearance and m 

 their structure. They are not likely to be confounded with Belladonna 

 root, their mother plants being indigenous in the South of Europe. 



FOLIA BELLADONNA. 



Belladonna Leaves; K Feiiilles de BeUadone ; G. Tollhuut 



Botanical Origin— Atrojxt Belladonna L. (p. 455). 



History— Belladonna Leaves and the extract prepared from them 



M-ere introduced into the London Pharmacopcoia of 1809. For further 

 particular; " - ^ - - _ ._ . 



article. 



reo'ardino; 



the history of belladonna, see the preceding 



Description— Belladonna or Deadly Nightshade produces thick, 

 smooth herbaceous stems, which attain a height of 4 to o feet. They 

 are simple in their lower parts, then usually 3-forked, and afterwards 

 2-forked, producing in their upper branches an abundance of bright 

 green leaves, arranged in unequal pairs, from the bases of which spring 

 the solitaiy, pendulous, purplish, bell-shaped flowers, and large shmmg 



black berries. 



The leaves are :\ to (] inches long, stalked, broadly ovate, acnuuna*'' 

 attenuated at the base, soft and juicy ; those of barren roois are alt'^r- 

 nate and solitary. The young shoots are clothed with a soft, short 

 pubescence, which on the calyx is somewhat more persistent, assuming 

 the character of viscid, glandular hairs. If bruised, the leaves emit a 

 ^J">ewhat offensive, herbaceous odour which is destroyed by drying- 

 When dried, they are thin and friablo of a. brownish cn-een on the up^' 



m* 



^Of 



fresh leaves 100 lb. yield IG lb. of dried'"(Squire). 



Chemical Composition— The important constituent of belladonna 

 leaves IS ^i/ur,ijitv. "^ " ■ — —— ^- - -. .i ^ -.■u->,iaiii? 



the leaves previously dri(id at 100° C. b\ 

 centratin '■■■•• - - -^ 



g tl . 



uf iodo-hydiargyrate of p(^tassium. 

 calculated t 



o 



Lefort (1872)2 estimated its amount by exhaustin 



means of dilute alcohol, coi - 



e tincture, and throwing doVn the alkaloid with a solntw' 



The precipitate thus ol)tamod;^'> 

 contain 3.3-25 per cuut. of atropine. Lefort exainint 

 leaves from plants both cvdtivated .nnd -rowing wild in the environ? o^ 

 Pans, an.l gathered either before or after Ho wiring. He found cultna- 

 tum not to affect the percentage d' alkaloid,-that the leaves ot l^^ 

 young plant ^vxn•e rather less rich than those taken at the period ot tui 



'Gmelin, CAo«*-,tr-y, x.ii. ast>6) 1. 



2 Journ. ck Pharm. xv. (1872J 269. 341 



