COROLLIFLOR^. 601 



per head of the population. He also estimated the total annual production at 

 2.000,000 of tona, which, at the value of 2d. per jiound, would amount to 

 37,00^), 000/. sterling. The consumption of tobacco in this country has enor- 

 mously increased of late years, and is still increasing. Tobacco owes its pro- 

 perties to the presence of an alkaloid called Nfconna which is a most energetic 

 poison, a volatile oil {nicotianin), and an empyreuinatic oil. Tobacco has 

 been employed in medicine as a local stimulant, and as a sedative, autispaj- 

 modic, emetic, laxative, and diuretic The principal kinds of Tobacco are the 

 American, from A'. Tahacnm; the Shiraz or Persian, from JV. persica; the 

 Syrian and Turkish, from A', rusiica; Cuba and Havannah, from A", repanda; 

 and Orinoko, from N. macrophylla. 



Datura Str anion iuin. Thorn-apple A narcotic property is possessed by 



all parts of the plant, and is especially developed in the seeds. Its medicinal 

 effects resemble those of Belladonna. It is employed as an anodyne and an- 

 tispasmodic. In spasmodic asfhfna, smoking the herb, or inhalation from its 

 infusion in warm water, has frequently given great relief, but its use requires 

 much caution, as it has in some instances produced fatal results. A strong de- 

 coction of the leaves in water is used in Cochin China as a remedy in hydro- 

 phobia, in which disease it is reputed to be very efficacious. Stramonium 

 owes its principal activity to the presence of a narcotic alkaloid called daturia, 

 which much resembles hyoscyamia and atropia, the alkaloids of Hyos- 

 cyamns niger and Atropci Belladonna. Daturia is a powerful poison, and 

 strongly dilates the pupil. D. Tatiila, metel, ferox, fastitosa, and san- 

 gtcinea, have similar properties to the D. Stramonium. The fruit of D. san- 

 guinea, the Red Thorn-Apple, is in use among the Indians of the Andes, and 

 in Central America, in the preparation of narcotic drinks, tiie use of which 

 produces a peculiar excitement, ;.nd enable them, they believe, to have com- 

 munication with the spirits of their ancestors. 



Uyoscyamus niger. Henbane. — The whole herb possesses narcotic pro- 

 perties, and Is employed medicinally as a narcotic, anodyne, and soporific. 

 Its activity is essentially due to the i>resence of the alkaloid hyoscyamia, 

 which is a powerful poison resembling atropia and daturia, and like them it 

 causes dilatation of the pupil. Two varieties of Henbane are coinmonlv cul- 

 tivated, the Annual and the Biennial; the latter of which is generally re- 

 garded as the most active in its properties. 



Atropa Belladonna, Deadly Nightshade or Dwale, is a powerful poison. 

 It is employed internally as an anodyne and antispasmodic, and externally for 

 dilating the pupil. It owes its activity to a peculiar alkaloid called atropia, 

 which is frequently employed instead of Belladonna to produce dilatation of 

 the pupil, and for other purposes. Atropia is a most powerful poison. 



Mandragora officinalis, the true Mandrake The roots have a fancied 



resemblance to the human form, hence their name. This Mandrake must 

 not be confounded with the roots of Bryonia dioica, which are also sometimes 

 so named. (See p. .=)48.) Mandrake is an acro-narcotic poison, and was used 

 by the ancients as an anaisthetic. The plant is called Devil's-apple by the 

 Arabs. Mandrake is considered to be the Dudaim of Scripture. 



Natural Order 1-56. Oleace^. — The Olive Order {figs. 979 — 

 981). — Trees or shrubs, ieat-es opposite. Floivers usually 

 perfect, or rarely unisexual. Cah/x persistent, 4-cleft (figs. 979 

 and 980), sometimes obsolete (fig. 426), inferior (fig. 981). 

 Corolla regular, 4-eleft (fig. 979), or of 4 distinct petals (fig. 

 980), or absent (fig. 426) ; cestivation valvate (fig. 979). Sta- 

 mens usually 2 (figs. 426 and 980), rarely 4. Ovary (figs. 979 

 and 981) 2 celled, with 2 suspended ovules in each cell. Fruit 

 fleshy or dry, often 1 -seeded. Seeds with abundant fleshy al- 

 bumen; embryo straight. 



Distribution, ^"c. — They are principally natives of temperate 

 regions, but a few occur within the tropics. Examples : — Olea, 

 Phillyrea, Ligustrum, Fraxinus, Ornus, Syringa. There are 

 21 genera, and 130 species. 



Ptoperties and Uses. — The barks of many plants of this order 



