18 MEDICAL BOTANY. 
This plant is a native of Europe, but has been introduced into the United States and cultiv 
midsummer. In England it is found in pastures, and about hedges, on a gravelly or sandy soil. 
The parts employed are the leaves and seeds. The leaves of the foxglove should be gathered when perfectly 
formed and matured, just before or during inflorescence; the lamine are to be preferred ; the petioles are hard, and 
sessing little activity, should be rejected. They should be carefully dried, which is best accomplished in baskets and 
in a dark stove room. They should be preserved in close vessels. When properly dried and preserved, they retain 
their green appearance, and have a faint odour, and a bitter, nauseous taste. 
The seeds are small, roundish, of a grayish-brown colour, and have a bitter taste. 
Foxglove has been examined by a number of chemists. Rein and Haase, in 1812, pointed out the existence of 
a green resin, extractive, gum and salts. In 1824, Le Royer, of Geneva, announced the existence of a peculiar prin- 
ciple, digitalin, and in 1833, Mr. Welding added tannin. The digitalin has been studied by Lancelot, Redig and 
Homolle; the latter more recently. It is a white, porous substance, difficult to crystallize, very bitter, acrid, neutral 
and only completely soluble in alcohol. A bitter principle is called by Redig pzcrin, and a brown, almost tasteless 
extractive scaptin. An empyreumatic oil has been generated from it. 
In this market there are two kinds of digitalis, one imported from England, the other derived from the Shakers. 
The latter is not generally good. A good article should have a fresh appearance. The adulterations practised upon this 
article are with the leaves of the Mullein, particularly the Verbascum Blattaria, but the physical properties of the leaf 
will serve to distinguish it. It does not appear that the digitalis was known to the ancients; the earliest account of it 
was given by Fuschius, who named it from its resemblance to the finger of a glove. Sigmond says, that Foxglove is 
@ corruption of Folk’s glove. It appears to have been known by the common name probably before the Norman con- 
quest. (Pereira.) To Dr. Withering is due the merit of having introduced the drug to the notice of the medical 
public in 1785. 
Digitalis is a powerful sedative to the circulation and nervous system, sometimes acting inordinately and produc- 
ing poisonous effects. It is used in inflammatory affections, and in disease of the heart. The forms of exhibition are 
substance, tincture, infusion, and extract or syrup. 
Prate LXIV.—Represents the plant in Slower, a mature leaf, and the organs of reproduction. 
ated. It flowers at 
SOLANACES, 
LINDLEY. 
THE NIGHTSHADE TRIBE. 
SoLanez.—Jussiey. 
, Seldom four-parted, persistent inferior. Corolla monopetalous, whe 
» regular or somewhat unequal, deciduous; the estivation plaited or 1m 
a, aS many as the segments of the limb, with which they are alternate. 
rarely by 
pores at the apex. Ovary two-celled, rarely four or many-celled, with — 
polyspermous placente. Style continuous. 
. Stigma simple. Pericarp with two, or four, or many cells, either a cap- 
piment parallel with 
‘ 4 iment. ste 
: the valves, or a berry with the placente adhering to the dissepime ea 
Seeds numerous, sessile, Embryo straight or curved, often out of the centre, lying in a fleshy albumen. Radicle next 
the hylum. (Lindley.) 
The plants of this order are shrubby or herbaceous, 
the floral ones sometimes 
doubled and contiguous. 
: Prof. Lindley states that they are natives of Most parts of the world within the arctic and antarctic circles ; espe 
cially within the tropics. ‘The medical properties of most of the Solanaceew are narcotic and poisonous, pasate 
acrid ; these depend upon the presence of an alkaline principle, which in many of them has been isolated. ‘The ro0 
of a few are excellent as nu to) in consequence of the large amount of wholesome fecula in them. 
triment (as the pota 
While the fruit of others j oi‘ stimulants 
viz., the Capsicum, ee a wholesome (as the ego-plant and tomato). One genus affords : 
M4 ves, 
with alternate undivided or lobed, sometimes collateral leav' 
| 
| 
| 
. 
’ 
