GAMOPETAL.E— II 



131 



poisoned, after partaking of the root in mistake for 

 chicory; the monks sufiered from hallucinations, and 



rantj 



tlie bell for 



matins at midiiifflit. 



The active 



principles are two alkaloids, called hyoscyamine and 



hyoscine, both powerful narcotics; and these are more 



effective, or present in 



greater quantity, at the 



time wdien the seeds are 



ripening. 



Medicinal Proj'terties. 

 An extract from the leaves 

 is used in medicine^ and 

 produces the effect of opium 

 without the 

 after-results which follow 



disaofreeable 



the administration of that 



drug. In some parts of the 



country the seeds and eap- 



sul es of Henbane are 



smoked like tobacco as a 



remedy for toothache; but 



tlie practice is dangerous, 



and sometimes results in 



convulsions and temporary 



insanity. It is not surpris- 

 ing to find that this plant, Fig^SL—UcuhaneiUiJo^ci/awusnii/er) 



in the Middle Ages, was one 

 of the " witches' " herbs. 



Disfrilmtion. 



It 



flt, Capsule, with Vul opening and seeils 

 falling out. &, Lower i>art of coroHu 

 opened out. 



IS 



found in sandy w^aste places from Dumbarton south- 

 wards; it is not native to Scotland; in Ireland it is very 



common. 



Collection.— The official leaves of the British Pharma- 

 eopceia are the leaves and floweriiig tops of second-year 

 plants of the biennial Henl:>ane, whilst the dry c<^mmercial 



