125-4 
matter, thirst, dilated pupils, stertorous respiration, convulsions, and a tetanic stiff- 
ness of the limbs. Death followed in all cases but one only during the acute 
symptoms.* 
A boy, after eating the berries, suffered horrible symptoms, dilation of the 
pupil, burning in the stomach, delirium, agony, trembling of the limbs, cold sweat, 
and death.+ 
Gataker{ commenced his experiments with the drug by giving a grain, which 
acted gently as an evacuant by sweat, urine, and stool; on increasing the dose 
until it was quite large, it produced vomiting, profuse perspiration, or too copious 
urination or diarrhcea, and sometimes dimness of vision and vertigo. 
A family, having eaten of the leaves, were attacked with swelling of the face, 
accompanied by burning heat, and followed by gangrene.§ 
A boy, aged eight years, ate some of the black berries of this plant, which 
induced a state of stupor and coma, attended with fever. He complained of great 
pain in the pit of the stomach, and was harassed with nausea and retchings.|| 
A little girl ate some of the berries. She was found entirely insensible, lying 
in a deep, apoplectic stupor, all the muscles relaxed, the face flushed and the pulse 
full and irregular. She continued in this state about six hours, then gradually 
recovered.{] 
Four of the ripe berries caused deep sleep in a child (age not given),** 
Two boys, aged two and three years, having eaten of the berries, had con- 
vulsions and spasms; they stretched their hands during the spasms, as if they 
would grasp something, carrying their hands to their mouths, chewing and swal- 
lowing, etc.}y : 
Thus Solanum Nigrum acts as an irritant to the brain and spinal cord, and 
secondarily upon the circulation through the vaso-motor system; the irritation 
seems greatest upon the sensory nerves and less upon the motor. Its action upon 
the brain is quite parallel with that of Belladonna, but evidently greater than Stra- 
- monium or Hyoscyamus. Its action upon the eye is more like that of Stramonium 
than Belladonna, and directly opposite to that of Gelsemium. 
DESCRIPTION OF PLATE 125. 
1. Part of a fruiting and flowering branch, Binghamton, N. Y., Sept. 1; Ss: 
2. A petal. 
3. An effete stamen. 
4. Pistil. 
5- Horizontal section of the ovary. 
(2-5 enlarged.) 
2 
* Orfila, Taylor on Poisons, p. 648. es : \| Adtbert, Nouveaux Eliments de Thirapentqn. 
+K. Ch. Grelin. Florce bedensic, p. 520. ie Eberle, Therapeutics. 
aS Versuch. ut. Bemerk. des Edin., pp. 95 and 98. oe Lbid, 
4 De — De So in isis, sean ae 4 ae Journdide Clinic Medical, an 
