206 ORD. XII. Solanacee, seu Luride. wyvoscyaMus Nicer. 
part of the plant, when taken in sufficient quantity, is capable of 
producing very dangerous and terrible symptoms.{ But there can- 
not be a doubt that this plant, like others of the same natural order, 
under proper management, may be safely employed, and be found 
in many cases to be an active and‘useful remedy. Hyoscyamus was 
well known to the ancients, and its effects as an anodyne were ex- 
perienced by Dioscorides,* and with this intention it has been used 
both internally and externally by several subsequent writers, par- 
ticularly by Celsus;* and in hemorrhagic diseases, the sem. Hyos- 
cyami were successfully given by Plater,* Forestus,‘ and Boyle. 
It appears however that for a long time past the employment of 
~ Henbane, in the practice of medicine, was wholly laid aside till 
Baron Stoerck published several cases of different diseases, in which 
an extract, prepared from the juice of this plant, has been dis- 
covered to be an efficacious remedy." . These diseases are stated by 
the Baron to be internal, spasms and convulsions, palpitations. of 
the heart, madness, melancholy, epilepsy, inveterate head-achs, 
hemoptysis; and a troublesome cough, which accompanied the last- 
mentioned complaint, was completely appeased by the repeated use 
_ herently, and were in as high a delirium as people in the rage of a fever. All of them 
had low irregular pulses, slavered, and frequently changed colour: their eyes looked 
fiery, and they catched at whatever lay next them, calling out that it was going to 
fall.” Phil. Trans. vol. 47. an. 1750. 
For additional facts, see Haller l.c. Spielmanni Diss. de veget. ven. Alsat. 
“Henbane is poisonous to birds and dogs ; but horses, cows, Beats, and swine, it does 
not affect. 
t Vires emollientes, & narcoticas, classis sue potentissimas pessidct, ut etiam magis, 
eeu relique, mentem emovere videatur, & deliria furiosa, rixosaque cierey unde olim 
nomen gessit alterci. Ka deliria aliquando fugacia sunt, & temulentize similia; alias 
diutius durant; & denique in mortem transeunt. Alias Hy escyamus heminem in 
_stuperem conjicit, Sed & sopores facit, & vertigines, conyulsiones, risusque sardo- 
nios, & inflationes, strangulationes, ardorem faucium, frigus extremorum. Si alvum 
dexit, a resolutione aliqua tonivid videtur factam fuisses, Haller Lc. | - 
Lib, 4, c. 69." * Lib. 6. ¢. 25, © Prax. Med. p. 635. Observat. lib, 16. _ 
® Usefulness of Nat. Phil. part 2.. ® Lib, de Stram. Hyoscyam. &¢ 
ee ape ris aS i SPT Pe 
