: SOLANACEAE. $73 
general name in Arabic for the Nightshades. Haji Zein-el-Attar 
(A. D. 1368), speaking of Inab-eth-thdlib, in Persian Rubah- 
turbak and Sag-angur, “ foxes’ or dogs’ grapes,” concludes by 
cautioning his readers against the use of a kind with black 
berries, which causes delirium and is highly poisonous. In 
cases of poisoning by the latter plant he directs emetics to be 
given, and milk or honey and water, with aniseed and bitter 
almonds, to be administered. 
The use of Belladonna as a medicine is of quite recent date ; 
it was only known to the ancients as a noxious herb. ts 
action upon the pupil of the eye appears to have been utilized 
in the 16th century by the Italian ladies, whence the name 
Herba Belladonna. (Matth. Comment. (1558) 533.) 
Physiological action—All animals are not equally affected 
_ by this poison. It has been observed that rabbits can feed 
_ upon the plant with impunity, and that the pupils of their eyes 
may be dilated by the application of their own urine. Birds 
eat the fruit, and, strange to say, the drug has no local actiou 
upon their eyes. Hecquet has observed the insusceptibility 
of marsupials to the poisonous action of belladonna, and 
snails and slugs feed upon its leaves with impunity.: Atropine’ 
has no injurious effect when injected into the blood vessels of 
birds and herbiverous animals, it is therefore evident ‘that 
their nervous system is not susceptible to its toxic action. _ 
The carnivora, under the influence of the drag, exhibit along 
with dilated pupils, evidences of suffering, retching or vomiting, 
general muscular debility, dulness of the senses, and increased, 
_ frequency and force of the heart’s action, but no delirious 
excitement is observed. (Acad. des Sciences, Séance du 28 Juin, 
1875.) 7 3 7 
In man when poisonous doses of belladonna have been 
taken, a sense of tightness or pain is felt in the forehead and 
eyes, with giddiness, confusion of thought, and. noises in the 
ears, The sight is confased, objects are hazy or their charactor 
is mistaken. Often they appear to be much smaller than 
ral. Spectral illusions, generally of a pleasing character, 
