264 FLORA HOMCOPATHICA. 
when the leaves are falling, and on this account it should be 
gathered in the autumn rather than the spring. ‘The roots are 
said to possess the same properties as the annual stems. These 
stems when fresh have a heavy, unpleasant odour, which they 
entirely lose by drying. Their taste is at first bitter, afterwards 
slightly acrid and sweet.* 
PuysioLocicaAL Errrcts.—On Animals. Thirty of the 
berries were given to a dog, which soon became mad, and died 
in the space of three hours; and upon opening the stomach, 
the berries were found to have undergone no change by the 
powers of digestion (Foyer, Pharm., p. 86). Others have stated 
that no effect has been produced by these berries. M. Duval 
(Mist. Mat. Méd. et Econ du Solanum) having given very large 
doses, both to animals and man, without their producing any 
deleterious effect. 
On Man.—In large doses, Solanum Dulcamara will produce 
nausea, vertigo, syncope, diarrhea, etc. Dr. Crichton found 
that, in delicate people and hysterical women, it frequently pro- 
_ duced syncope, with slight palpitation of the heart, accompanied 
occasionally by nausea and giddiness. Chevalier (Hist des 
Drogues, t. ii. p. 229) states that narcotism was produced in a 
man, merely by carrying a bundle of this plant on his 
head. 
The following cases illustrate the poisonous action of the 
berries. Two children, one five years, the other three anda 
half years of age, ate a few berries of the Dulcamara; an hour 
after they were seized with excruciating pains in the intestines; 
- great heat in the throat and chest ; could not bear the slightest 
pressure on the abdomen; much nausea, thirst, and prostration 
of strength; pulsations at the wrist very frequent; breathing 
painful and hurried ; evacuations, after administering castor oil, 
green, slimy, and extremely offensive. These symptoms gra- 
~ The berries are poisonous, and possess very active properties ; a preparation 
from them would be worthy of trial. The active principle of Dulcamara is a0 
alkali, Solania, which exists in the plant, combined with malic acid. 
