190 FLORA HOMCEOPATHICA. 



hath the fruit of wild cucumber." Baron Storck recommended 

 it internally in mania and epilepsy. " If," says he, " Stramo- 

 nium produces symptoms of madness in a healthy person, would 

 it not be desirable to make experiments in order to discover 



whether this plant, by its effects on the brain in changing the 



ideas and the state of the sensorium (i. e., of the part, whatever 

 it may be, which is the centre of action of the nerves upon the 

 body)— should we not, I say, try whether this plant would not 

 restore to a healthy state those who are suffering from alienation 

 of mind ? and if by the change which Stramonium would cause 

 in those who suffer from convulsions, by putting them into a 

 contrary state to that in which they were, would it not cause 

 their cure ?" 



In modern allopathic medicine its chief employment has been 

 to diminish sensibility and relieve external pain. In neuralgia. 

 Tic douloureux. Sciatica. Rheumatism. Enterodynia ; and in 

 spasmodic asthma by smoking the herb, a practice requiring the 

 greatest caution, and often producing very serious and injurious 

 effects. It has been given in epilepsy with some success at 

 Stockholm, eight out of fourteen patients being entirely cured 

 by its use. 



In Germany the Thorn-apple has been extensively employed 

 to cause loss of consciousness and lethargy, preparatory to the 

 commission of various atrocious crimes. 



Description.— A bushy, smooth, foetid herb, annual, and 

 flowering in July and August. The root is large, divided, and 

 fibrous. The stem from one to three feet high, smooth, much 

 branched, forked, spreading, and leafy. Leaves from the forks 

 of the stem, and branches large, broad towards the base, pointed 



at the extremity, variously and sharply sinuated and toothed, 



of a dark green, on round, shortish footstalks. The /< 

 large, axillary, upright, white, and sweet-scented, especially at 

 night, on short, upright peduncles. Calyx pale green. The 

 corolla about three inches long, white, with a greenish, five- 

 angled tube. Fruit prickly, the size of a walnut. Seeds kidney- 



