SOLANUM DULcAMARA. ORD. XII. Solanacece, seu Luride. 241 
somewhat longer than the stamina, and terminated by a simple 
obtuse stigma; the germen is oval, and becomes a roundish bilo- 
cular berry, which finally acquires a red colour, and contains many 
flat yellowish seeds. It grows plentifully in hedges well supplied 
with water, and the flowers appear about the latter end of June. 
The roots and stalks of this Nightshade, upon being chewed, first 
cause a sensation of bitterness, which is soon followed by a con- 
siderable degree of sweetness; and hence the plant obtained the 
name of ‘Bittersweet. The berries’ have not yet been applied to 
medical use; they seem to act powerfully upon the prime vie, ex- 
eiting violent vomiting and purging: thirty of them were given to 
a dog, which soon became mad, and died in the space sf three hours, 
and upon 0 , the berries-were-diseovered to have 
undergone no othange by the powers of digestion ;* there can there- 
fore be little doubt of the deleterious effects of these berries; and 
as they are very common in the hedges, and may be easily mistaken 
by children for red currents, which they somewhat resemble, this 
circumstance is the more worthy of notice. The stipites, or young- 
er branches, are directed for use, in the Edinburgh Pharm. and 
they may be employed either fresh or dried, making a proportionate 
allowance in the dose of the latter for some diminution of its powers: 
by drying. In autumn, when the leaves are fallen, the sensible 
qualities of the plant are said to be the strongest.’ and on this ac- 
count it should be gathered in autumn rather than in spring:- 
Dulcamara does not manifest those narcotic qualities, which are, 
common to many of the nightshades; it is however very generally 
admitted to be a medicine of considerable efficacy. Murray says 
that it promotes all the secretions:* Haller observes that it partakes. 
of the milder powers of the Nightshade, joined to a resolvent and 
saponaceous quality ;* and the opinion of Bergius seems to coincide 
* Floyer Pharmac. p. 86. 
* Colliguntur stipites vel primo vere vel autumni fine, foliis destituti, tumque et 
edor saporque insignior. Murray Ap. Med. vol. i. p. 424. 
© Per omnia colatoria corporis efficaciam exercent. 1. c. 
* Vis partim solanaces, mitis, partim resolvens, quasi saponacea, oe 
No. 21.—vot. 2. 3 
