HYOSCYAMUS NIGER. , 299 
chronic affections, with tension of fibre; in the end, however, 
it rather increases than diminishes them, by its indirect, second- 
ary action, which is exactly the opposite of its primary action. 
On the other hand, it will help to assist the power of the 
strengthening remedy in chronic relaxation of the fibres, as in 
its primary action it relaxes, and in its secondary action it tends 
all the more to elevate the tone, and that in a durable manner. 
In large doses, it likewise possesses the power of producing 
hemorrhage, especially bleeding from the nose, and frequently 
relieving catamenial flux, as I and others have ascertained. 
For this reason it cures chronic hemorrhages, in small doses, in 
an extremely effectual and lasting manner. The most remark- 
able thing is the artificial disease it produces in very large 
doses, suspicious, quarrelsome, spitefully-calumnious, revenge- 
ful, destructive, fearless mania, hence Henbane was termed by 
the Ancients, Altercum; and this is the kind of mania it speci- 
fically cures, only that in such cases a tenseness of fibre some- 
times hinders its effects from being permanent. Difficulty of 
moving and insensibility of the limbs, and the apoplectic symp- 
toms it produces, it may also very probably be capable of curing. 
In large doses it produces, in its direct primary action, convul- 
sions, and is consequently useful in epilepsy, probably also in 
the loss of memory usually accompanying it, as it has the power 
of producing want of recollection. Its power of causing, in its 
direct action, sleeplessness, with constant tendency to slumber, 
makes it in chronic sleeplessness a much more permanent 
remedy than the frequently merely palliative opium, especially 
as it at the same time keeps the bowels open, although only by 
the indirect secondary action of each dose, consequently in a 
palliative way. It causes dry cough, dryness of the mouth and 
nose, in its direct action ; it is therefore very useful in tickling 
cough, probably also in dry coryza. The flow of mucus from 
the nose and the flow of saliva observed from its use only be- 
long to its indirect secondary action. ‘The seeds cause convul- 
sions in the facial and ocular muscles; and by their action on 
