FOLIA HYOSCYAMI 403 



acuminate, coarsely dentate with a few spreading teeth. Tliey evolve an 

 offensive odour when handled. 



Microscopic Structure — The testa is built up of the same tissues as 

 in D. Sframonkim, but the thick-walled cells constituting the spongy 

 part are far larger, and distinctly show numerc^us secondary <leposits, 

 making a fine object for the microscope. 



Chemical Composition — Neither the seeds nor the leaves of IJ. 

 alba have yet been examined chemically, but there can scarcely be any 

 doubt that their very active properties are due to Dahtrine, for the pre- 

 paration of which the former would probably be the best source. 



Uses- The seeds in the form of tincture or extract have been em- 

 ployeil in India as a sedative and narcotic, and the fresh leaves, bruised 

 and made into a poultice with flour, as an anodyne application. 



FOLIA HYOSCYAMI. 



Henbane Leaves; F. Feailles de Jusqtdame; G. BllsenJcraut, 

 Botanical Origin — Hy 



1 



soft, viscid, hairy foliage of unpleasant odour, pale yellowish flowers 

 elegantly marked with purple veins, and 5-toothed bottle-shaped calyx. 

 It is found throughout Europe from Portugal and Greece to Central 

 Norwav and Finland in F.o-vnt. Asia Minor, the Caucasus, Persia, 



arrows 



ay and Finland, in Egypt, Asia Minor, the 

 Siberia and Northern India. A,s ^ „^^^ „: .^l'" 

 also in North America' and Brazil. In Britain it occiu's wild, clnetly 

 in waste places near buildings; and is cultivated for medicinal use. _ 



Henbane exists under two varieties, known as amnial and himmol, 

 but scarcely presenting any other distinctive character. 



Blemiial He 



ant 



vv,v.iijc»a iui jjiitirmaceuucai prepiuatiuiia. au ^o ii-»>. — J" , , ^ i^ 



producing the first year only a rosette of luxuriant stalked leaves, iz 

 or more inches in lenoth. In the second, it throws up a flower stem ot 

 2 to 3 feet in height, and the whole plant dies as the fruit matures 

 Annual Ilenhane (H. niger var. j3. annua, vel agresfis)iH a smaller 

 coniino- to nerfep.tion in a single season. It is the usual wild torm. 



plant, 



grown by the herbalists. 



History-Hyoscyamus, under which name it is probable the nearly 

 ied South Euronean snecies. H.albus L., was generally intended v^aji 



par 



,. In Europe, henbane has been employed from remote times l.ene- 

 dictuH Crispus, archbishop of Milan, in a work written shorU>bUorc 

 A-D. 681, notices it under the name of Jbjo^njamm and ^^^^"'Xcer 

 lu the 10th century, its virtues were particularly recorded by JHacer 



^loridus** wbn onllorl if T^ioniiinm/ii^. 



plants "spnmgup since the English planted lant, Lips. LS."}-. 1U». 

 aiHl kept cattle in New' England. " 



