78 FLORA HOMC@OPATHICA. 
the remedy, and the quality of it will of course have consider- 
able influence on the result of the experiment. Three grains of 
extract, which must have been recently prepared, are dissolved in 
three ounces of dilute alcohol, of this solution the individual 
takes twice a day as many drops as he is years old; its use must 
be continued as long as contagion is possible. The dose, it 
appears, is so very small, that even if it should fail in its effects, 
it will at all events not be injurious. 
“In consequence of Hufeland’s communication on the above 
subject, the Prussian Government has issued an official decree, 
ordering the general use of Belladonna as a prophylactic, in all 
instances when scarlet fever prevails as an epidemic.” (Liter. 
Ann. der Ges. Heilk., extracted from Lancet, vol. ii. p. 135, 
1838—9). 
The following account of Hahnemann’s discovery of the 
prophylactic effect of Belladonna in scarlet fever will be read 
with interest.* ; 
“T shall now relate the mode in which I made the discovery 
of this specific preservative remedy. 
“The mother of a large family, at the commencement of 
July, 1799, when the scarlet fever was most prevalent and fatal, 
had got a new counterpane made up by a sempstress, who 
(without the knowledge of the former) had in her small chamber 
a boy just recovering from scarlet fever. The first-mentioned 
woman, on receiving it, examined and smelt it, to ascertain whe- 
ther it might require airing, but as she could detect no smell, she 
placed it beside her on a sofa, on which some hours later she laid 
down to sleep. In this way alone she imbibed this miasm. A 
week subsequently she was suddenly attacked with quinsy, 
and its characteristic shooting pains in the throat, which was 
subdued after four days. Several days afterwards, her daugh- 
ter, bt years of age, was attacked in the evening by severe 
pressive pain in the abdomen, itching of the head and body, 
* From Hahnemann’s 
Lesser Writings. Translated Dr. Dudgeon. Head- 
land, 1851. by 
