NIGHTSHADE TRIBE 273 



less accidents would be more frequent but for the rareness of the plant, which 

 has probably been in a measure extirpated by botanists and herbalists of 

 former years. Its chief place of growth is in old quarries, or among ruins ; 

 but it is sometimes to be found in woods and hedges. The old name of the 

 plant, Dwale, is apparently a corruption of the French cleuil, mourning ; and 

 early English botanists called it Banewort, Sleeping Nightshade or Raging 

 Nightshade, while its old French name was Morelle morfdle. Nor is the poison 

 contined to the berries. A few grains of the dried leaves, or a small dose of 

 the infusion of these leaves, will shortly cause dryness of the throat, and a 

 most extravagant delirium, often accompanied by uncontrollable fits of 

 laughter, sometimes with incessant talking, but in some instances by a total 

 loss of the voice. The state of mind induced by taking it somewhat 

 resembles somnambulism ; and a case is mentioned by Morehouse, in his 

 work on " Intoxicating Liquors," of a man who was for fifteen hours speech- 

 less and insensible to external objects, but who, meantime, went through all 

 the operations of his trade with great assiduity, and moved his lips as if in 

 conversation 



This plant is interesting to the historical reader from the narrative 

 respecting it given by Buchanan, the historian. This author relates that the 

 Scots under Macbeth, being desirous of poisoning the Danes, treacherously 

 took the opportunity, during a season of truce, to mix the poisonous Night- 

 shade with the ale with which they had agreed to supply them. The army 

 of Sweuo slept soundly, and their enemies then destroyed them during their 

 helplessness. Our great dramatist is believed by many to have alluded to 

 this plant when he represents Banquo as asking, " Or have we eaten of the 

 insane root that takes the reason prisoner V Professor Burnett remarks : 

 "Even in earlier times the paroxysms of madness which were brought on by 

 it seem, as indeed well they might, to have challenged the wonder of 

 observers ; for it is supposed, and not without reason, to be the plant eaten 

 by Marc Antony when distressed for provisions, and the strong effects of 

 which are recorded by Plutarch in his account of the Parthian war. He says, 

 those who sought for herbs obtained few that they had been accustomed to 

 eat, and, in tasting unknown herbs, they found one that brought on madness 

 and death. He that had eaten of it immediately lost all memory and know- 

 ledge, but at the same time would busy himself in moving every stone which 

 he met with, as if he was engaged on some very important pursuit." 



Our oldest poets refer frequently to the somniferous properties of this 

 Nightshade. Thus Chaucer says — 



"Arise, quod she ; what, have ye dronken Dwale ! 

 Why slepen ye ? it is no nitertale." 



A strange use for this plant is mentioned in a volume of miscellaneous 

 collections, once belonging to William of Worcester, Sloane MS. : " For to 

 take alle maner of byrdys. Take whete or other corne, and take guse of 

 Dwale and menche the corne therein, and ley it by the byrde's hawnteyne ; 

 and when they have eaten thereof, they shall slepe that ye may take them 

 with your handys." Gerarde was well aware of its powerful properties, 

 for he says, " If you will follow my counsell, deale not with the same in any 



II. — 35 



