HYOSCYAMUS NIGER. 297 
sleep. In poisonous doses, it causes loss of speech, dilatation of 
the pupil, disturbance of vision, distortion of the face, coma, 
and delirium, generally of the unmanageable, sometimes of the 
furious kind, and paralysis, occasionally with convulsive move- 
ments. Irritation of the stomach and bowels, manifested by 
nausea, vomiting, pain, and purging, is occasionally induced 
(Pereira, op. cit.) 
Boerhaave experienced a sensation of trembling and drunken- 
ness whilst preparing a plaster, into the composition of which 
Henbane entered. 
Wepfer relates that several monks made a repast on the roots 
of the wild endive, among which were mixed by mistake two 
roots of Henbane. Ina few hours some experienced vertigo, 
others a burning of the tongue, lips, and throat; severe pains 
were also felt in the iliac region, and in all the joints. The 
intellectual faculties and the organs of vision were perverted, 
and they gave themselves up to actions which were mad and 
ridiculous, In other cases, a haggard countenance, dilatation 
of the pupils, difficulty of breathing, small and intermittent 
pulse, loss of speech, trismus, and temporary loss of intellect 
have been the principal symptoms; while the extremities have 
been observed to be cold and nearly paralysed (Orfila, vol. ii. 
pp- 135 et seq.) | 
Two soldiers ate the young shoots dressed in olive oil. They 
presently became giddy and stupid, lost their speech, and had 
a dull, haggard look. The pupils were excessively dilated, 
and the eyes so insensible that the eyelids did not wink when 
the cornea was touched; the pulse was small and intermitting ; 
the breathing difficult, the jaw locked, and the mouth dis- 
torted by risus sardonicus. Sensibility was extinct, the limbs 
were cold and palsied, the arms convulsed, and there was 
that singular union of delirium and coma which is usually 
termed tymphomania. As the palsy and somnolency abated, 
the delirium became more extravagant (Cloquet in Christ., 
op. cit.) 
