HYOSCYAMUS NIGER. 295 
Hisrory.—Hyoscyamus niger is the Yooxuzmos wedras of Dios- 
corides. He described three species, which were distinguished 
by the colour of their seeds; but he considered that the Hyo- 
scyamus albus was the only one fit for medicinal purposes. The 
black (Hyoscyamus niger) he rejects as being highly poisonous. 
According to Sprengel, the Hyoscyamus described by Hippo- 
crates is the Hyoscyamus albus. 
The following is Pliny’s account of Henbane (Holland’s 
Trans., ed. 1601, p. 215): “Moreover, unto Hercules is’ 
ascribed Henbane, which the Latines call Appollinaris; the 
Arabians, Altercum or Altercangenon; but the Greeks, Hyo- 
scyamus. Many kinds there be of it, the one beareth black 
seed, flowers standing much upon purple, and this hearbe is full 
of prickes ; and in very truth, such is the Henbane that groweth 
in Galatia. ‘The common Henbane is whiter, and brauncheth 
more than the other, taller also than the poppie. The third 
kind bringeth forth seed like unto the grains of iris. All the 
sort of these alreadie named trouble the braine, and put men 
besides their right wits: besides that they breed dizzinesse of 
the head. As touching the fourth, it carieth leaves soft, full of 
down, fuller and fatter than the rest: the seed also is white, 
and it groweth by the seaside. Physicians are not afraid to use 
this in their compositions, no more than that which has red 
seed. Howbeit, otherwiles, this white kind especially, if it bee 
not throughly ripe, prooveth to be reddish, and then it is 
rejected by the physicians. For otherwise none of them all 
would be gathered, but when they bee fully drie. Henbane is 
of the nature of wine, and therefore offensive to the understand- 
ing, and troubleth the head. Howbeit, good use there is, both 
of the seed it selfe as it is in substance, and also of the oile or 
juice drawne out of it apart. And yet the stalk, leaves, and 
roots are employed in some purposes. For mine owne part, I 
hold it to be a dangerous medicine, and not to be used but with 
great heed and discretion. For this is certainely knowne, that 
+f one take in drinke more than four leaves thereof, it will put 
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