126-3 
also claimed, in this connection, that Hyoscyamus rather tends to keep the bowels 
open, than to constipate like opium. Hyoscyamus leaves are often used as fomen- 
tations or cataplasms for painful swellings, such as irritable ulcers, indurated 
glands, and tumors, as well as in severe chordee, orchitis, etc. The doses given, 
are: 10 grains of the powdered leaves; 5 to 10 grains of the extract; one-half 
to 1 drachm of the tincture; or very sinall doses of Hyoscyamine, 
The laity have often used the smoke of the smouldering leaves in odontalgia, 
by directing it into the caries by means of a paper faniiels but as Geuvalsions. 
delirium, and other frightening symptoms have followed in some cases, this practice 
is now seldom resorted to. 
The following preparations and AYyoscyami Folia, are officinal in the U.S. Ph.: 
Abstractum Flyoscyami ; Extracta Hlyoscyami Alcoholicum and Fluidum,and Tinc- 
tura fLyoscyamt. Flyoscyamine Sulphas is also recommended, In the Eclectic 
Dispensatory, a tincture and the two extracts are mentioned. 
PART USED AND PREPARATION.—The fresh herb, gathered just before 
flowering, or after the seed pods are well formed and the summit of the plant is 
still flowering, is treated in the manner laid down for Dulcamara.* The resulting . 
tincture has a clear brownish-orange color by transmitted light; the strong, heavy 
odor of the plant; an unpleasant, slightly bitter taste; and an acid reaction. © 
CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS.—/yoscyamine,+ C,,H,,NO,.¢ This noted, my- 
driatic, highly poisonous alkaloid, was first detected by Brandes; Geiger and Hesse 
procured it in an impure state from the herb in 1833, but it was not isolated ina pure 
state until 1871, when Héhn extracted it from the seeds, which are richer in this 
principle than the herb, It is described as an oily liquid, concreting later into 
verrucose-tufted crystals, which Duquesnel has succeeded in crystallizing into 
stellately grouped, acicular prisms. The crystals fuse at 90$ (194° F.), and are 
soluble in ether, chloroform, alcohol, and water. Hyoscyamine is decomposed by 
caustic alkalies ; and in aqueous solution, when boiled with Baryta, it splits into the 
two following bodies: 
Hyoscine, © pH,,N.— This Jolatie. oily liquid, of an alkaline reaction, having 
a narcotic odor, is now claimed, by Ladenburg, to be identical with Zropine 
(Belladonna); and that /Zyoscine proper is a second alkaloid ‘of Hyoscyamus, 
yioltion different salts than either Hyoscyamine or 77 ore | and — - 
Hyoscinic Acid, C,H,,O,.—This crystalline body, meltin ting at 105° © (221° F. ), 
is isomeric with D rope Acid (Belladonna) and may yet b 
with it. ; : 
able from the seeds by pressure. It has a Ao gr. of 0.913, ssi is ate in 60 
: per of alcohol. 2 
found to. ). be identical oe 
Oil of Hyoscyamus.—This ee sisi gah peliow? iqtior, is , obtain. e —o 
