SOLANACEE. 567 
tolerably well with W. somnifera. Rheede calls it Pevetti, and 
states that a vulnerary ointment is prepared from the leaves, 
Prosper Alpinus (i., cap. 33) describes and figures it under the 
name of Solanum somniferum antiquorum. Roxburgh states 
that the Telinga physicians reckon the roots alexipharmic. 
Ainslie (ii. 14) says:—‘“The root as found in the medicine 
bazars, is of a pale colour, and in external appearance not 
anlike our gentian; but it has little sensible taste or smell, 
though the Tames Vytians suppose it to have deobstruent and 
diuretic qualities, given in decoction to the quantity of about 
half a teacupful twice daily ; the leaves moistened with a little 
warm castor oil, are a useful external application in cases of 
_ earbuncle.” The authors of the Bombay Flora say that the 
seeds are employed to coagulate milk like those of W. coagulans. 
_ We have tried the experiment and find them to have some 
coagulating power. 
The plant is very common along the sherri of the Mediter- 
ranean, where it has always been reputed to be hypnotic. The 
properties of W. somnifera have recently been investigated by 
Dr. Trebut with regard to its reputation for hypnotic. proper- 
ties ; he states that he has obtained an alkaloid from it which 
has i protic action and does not produce mydriasis. Pl. 
Simmonds (Amer. Journ. Pharm., Feb., 1891) states that the 
plant is omeloret at the Civil Hospital, Alves, as a sedative and 
hypnotic. 
— Description.—The plant sa long tapering light 1 brow 
root, which may attain the size of a carrot ; it is surmounted by 
a knotty crown, from which spring eter) shrubby, flexuose 
round branches, 1 to 5 feet in length. The leaves are double, 
ovate, entire, 2 to 4 inches long; flowers axillary, subsessile, 
crowded at the ends of the branches; corolla campanulate, 
yellowish .green, very small; berry red, smooth, size of a pea; 
covered by a membranaceous closely-fitting calyx, open at the 
apex;. seeds numerous, yellowish white, reniform, Bein 
, about sth of an inch long; testa honeyco 
hole plant i is covered with small branched: sand 
team ote * 
