126-6 
breathing difficult; the pulse small and intermittent. Beside these symptoms, 
there was the spasmodic grin (risus sardonicus),. with delirium ; and the jaws were 
spasmodically closed. Under treatment the men recovered in the course of two 
days.—(Orfila, 4éme ed., vol. 2, p. 264.) 
A woman collected in a field a quantity of the roots by mistake for parsnips. 
They were boiled in soup, of which nine persons in the family partook without 
remarking any particular taste. Very shortly afterward the whole of these per- 
sons felt uneasy, and complained of a bitter, acrid taste in the mouth, with nausea. 
The pupils of the eyes were dilated, and there was indistinctness of vision. These 
symptoms were followed by great restlessness, convulsions, and continued deliriy m. 
The patients successively lost the power of vision, hearing, and voice, and were 
affected with stupor and insurmountable somnolency.—(£iv, Med. and S. ¥., Oct., 
1844, p. 562.) 
Post-Mortem.—Orfila quotes a case of fatal poisoning by the roots, and Wib- 
mer one by the leaves. The appearances were those of general congestion of 
dark-colored liquid blood in the venous system, such condition being found in the 
lungs and brain. There are commonly found no traces of irritation or inflammation 
in the stomach or bowels. 
“The differential diagnosis of the three mydriatics in the treatment of head 
affections is fairly stated by Dr. Phillips. In cases of cerebral hyperzemia, the 
severer forms are removed by Belladonna, while Hyoscyamus proves its value 
when there is little or no congestion, but much excitement, So in the case of 
delirium; the forms of this disorder, for which Hyoscyamus is adapted, are the 
milder and less inflammatory ones, whereas the severer cases are better dealt 
with by Belladonna and Stramonium. Hyoscyamus is specially useful again in 
those cases of delirium with hallucinations which are accompanied with little or no 
cerebral congestion, but where there is great excitability of the nervous system, 
and where there is reason to fear that the operation of opium would prove 
injurious.” —(Hughes, Pharmacodynamics, p. 41 4.) 
DESCRIPTION OF PLATE 126. 
1. A flowering and fruiting branch, from near Boston, July 27th, 1884. 
2. Opened corolla. 
3. Stamen. 
4. Opened calyx, showing pistil. 
5. Horizontal section of the ovary. 
6. Fruiting calyx. 
7. Fruit. 
8. Longitudinal section of fruit. 
9- Dehiscent fruit. 
-. 14. Longitudinal section of seed i 7a oe A aetere | 
