122 POISONOUS PLANTS 



somewhat resembling those of poisoning by the 

 mandrake, another species of the same genus. 



Mr. Blyth says that the Deadly Nightshade 

 contains not only its own poisonous principle, 

 Atropine, which is the same as that of the Thorn- 

 apple, Daturiiie, but Hyoscyamine as well, character- 

 istic of the Henbane. The young roots contain 

 the last only, while the older have Atropine in 

 addition. The ripe berries contain both, if culti- 

 vated, but the wild berries have only Atropine. 



The seeds are very small, kidney-shaped, covered 

 with small, round projections. Mr. Blyth gives 

 statistics of poisoning by Atropine for ten years 

 ending 1892. The total number was seventy-nine. 

 Twenty-nine were suicidal, the rest accidental, and 

 almost invariably the result of mistakes in phar- 

 macy. It is children alone who have eaten the 

 berries of Belladonna, and leaves or seeds of 

 Thorn-apple.^ 



The late Dr. B. W. Richardson considered the 

 drug administered to Juliet was Mandragora, 

 allied to pur Deadly Nightshade ; as, contrary to 



1 Dr. Brunton gives as antidotes to poisoning by Belladonna 

 and also by Thorn-apple {Datura Stra?no7tium\ stimulants 

 and coffee ; inject caffeine subcutaneously ; arouse from 

 stupor, as in opium poisoning; and, if necessary, artificial 

 respiration. 



Dr. Tanner suggests the use of emetics and purgatives 

 to free the intestine. Mr. Blyth, besides these, adds an enema 

 of coffee. Hot water to the feet and alternate douches of 

 cold and hot water are found useful. 



