— Patouillat, Pail. Trans., 40, 446.) 
126-4 
Potassium Nitrate, KNO,.—Crystals of this salt were isolated from this plant 
by Attfield.* 
PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION. — All parts of this plant are poisonous; the 
seeds, however, are the most active, the root next, and, lastly, the leaves and 
flowers. The effluvium arising from the cut and bruised leaves has been known 
to cause of itself, vertigo, stupor, and syncope. 
On Animals —Orfia states that the drug acts upon dogs much the same as 
upon man, producing dilation of the pupils, weakness of the posterior extremities, 
staggering, and insensibility. Moirond states that, given in large quantities to 
horses, it causes slight dilation of the pupils, spasmodic movements of the limbs, 
and increased heart's action. On cats it acts much the same as upon dogs, 
Upon gallinaceous birds it is supposed to have a baneful action; while cows, sheep, 
goats, rabbits, and many other animals are said to be but slightly affected. 
On Man.—The action of Hyoscyamus upon man, is that of a powerful nar- 
cotic poison, a severe, cardiac, and cerebral stimulant, and tends to produce general 
paralysis of the nervous system. Of the delirium produced, Dr. Harley remarks 
—as Dioscorides had before him—that it greatly resembles that produced by 
alcoholic intoxication. 
The symptoms in general, resulting from taking the drug, are: Lively, wild, 
or busy delirium, tending more to the grotesque than to the harmful type; the 
patient laughs, talks, gesticulates, dances, etc., and carphologia is often noticed; 
vertigo and confusion; eyes red, wild, and sparkling, with dilation of the pupils ; 
insensibility of the retina, and illusions of sight; redness of the face; dryness of 
the mucous membranes of the mouth and fauces; paralysis of the tongue ; 
difficult deglutition; nausea and vomiting ; tympanitic distention of the abdomen : 
diarrheea, and involuntary passages; paralysis of the bladder, and retention of 
urine; dry cough; rapid, irregular heart’s action; trembling of the upper limbs, ° 
weakness of the legs; convulsions; insomnia; chill, fever, and sweat. 
The following cases of poisoning by this drug, will serve to show its method 
of action: Nine persons, having eaten the roots of Hyoscyamus, were seized with 
alarming symptoms: “Some were speechless, and showed no other signs of life 
than by convulsions, contortions of their limbs, and the risus sardonicus ; all hav- 
ing their eyes starting out of their heads, and their mouths drawn backwards on 
both sides; others had all the symptoms alike; however, five of them did open 
their mouths, now and then, but it was to utter howlings. The madness of all of 
these patients was so complete, and their agitations so violent, that, in order to 
give one of them an antidote, I was obliged to employ six strong men to hold him 
while I was getting his teeth asunder, to pour down the remedy. Upon their 
recovery, all objects appeared to them as scarlet, for two or three days.” —(Dr, 
_* Pharm. Four., 1862, 447. For authorities an the Pe es H Es ea a ee 
See ’ j . ‘ scyamus, df aan Stee * 
peels ial es cea : evtsh & ae yoseyamus, an ates study, ane Bhi 
