ATROPA BELLADONNA. 67 
be preserved in hermetically-sealed glass jars for a considerable 
time without losing their virtue. 
Poisonous Errects.—The symptoms produced by taking an 
over or poisonous dose are most interesting to all homeopathists. 
It is one of the most energetic of the indigenous poisons. 
Every part of the plant is injurious, but we are best acquainted 
with the effect of the berries, as from their tempting and 
luscious appearance they are often eaten by children and 
ignorant people. The usual effects are, dryness of the mouth, 
and heat attended with thirst. If the dose has been large, 
besides these, there are difficulty of deglutition and articulation, 
feeling of constriction about the throat ; nausea; sometimes 
Vomiting, and at times swelling and redness of the face; 
dilatation of the pupils; obscurity of vision, or absolute blind- 
hess; visual illusions; suffused eyes; singing in the ears; 
numbness of the face ; confusion of the head; giddiness; deli- 
rium simulating intoxication, which may be combined with or 
followed by sopor ; and, if the dose has been very large, com~- 
plete coma, and death. 
The berry of this plant is supposed to be that which poisoned 
Marc Antony’s troops in the Parthian war, for being much 
distressed for food, they ate berries, etc. ; and Plutarch gives 
the following description : “ Those who sought for herbs and 
pot-herbs, and they found but few, and tasting unknown herbs, 
they found one which brought on madness and death. He that 
had eaten it immediately lost all memory and knowledge, but 
at the same time would busy himself in turning and moving 
every stone he met with, as if he were upon some very im- 
portant pursuit. The camp was full of unhappy men bending 
to the ground, and thus digging up or removing stones, till at 
last they were carried off by bilious vomiting, when wine, the 
only remedy, was not to be found.” 
Its poisonous properties were also known to the Scots. The 
Danes, under Sweno, were defeated by Macbeth, and bite 2 
