298 FLORA HOM@OPATHICA. 
Six persons ate the roots of Henbane by mistake for parsnips: 
several were delirious, and danced about like maniacs; one 
appeared as if he had got drunk; and one woman became pro- 
foundly and irrecoverably comatose. 
Dr. Patouillat, of Toncy, in France, saw nine persons who 
were poisoned by this root; some were speechless and convul- 
sive, others occasionally howled. In all there was a protrusion 
of the eyes, contortion of the mouth, and delirium (Phil. Trans., 
vol. xl. p. 446). 
It is related that a tailor, under the influence of this plant, 
could not thread his needle; his needle seemed to have three 
points (Lancet, 1846, p. 479). 
Professor Foderé (Méd. Légale, vol. iv. p. 23) gives an account 
of the effect of the Hyoscyamus albus on the crew of a French 
corvette. The plant was boiled and distributed among the 
whole ship’s company; they were all soon seized with giddi- 
ness, vomiting, convulsions, colic, purging, and delirium of an 
active kind. They were all relieved by emetics and purgatives. 
Dr. Archibald Hamilton (Ed. Phys. and Lit. Ess., vol. ii. 
p- 268) has described a case which was caused by the seeds of 
this plant. A young medical student, who took twenty-five 
grains of the seeds, was seized in half an hour with lassitude 
and somnolency, convulsive movements of the arms, incohe- 
rency, total insensibility of the skin, and loss of recollection. 
These symptoms continued for thirty-two hours, and then 
slowly receded. 
Mepicat Uses (Homm@oparuic).— Hahnemann’s observations : 
“The fact that Henbane (Hyoscyamus niger), in large doses, 
diminishes remarkably the heat of the body, and relaxes its tone 
for a short time in its direct action, and therefore is an effica- 
cious palliative remedy when given in moderate doses inwardly, 
and outwardly in sudden attacks of tension of the fibres and 
inflammation, does not fail to be considered in this place. This 
is not the case, however, with the observation that this pro- 
perty only enables it to palliate very imperfectly, in any dose, 
