SOLANACEJD. 101 



In seeking for the origin of the common name of this plant, we are universally 

 met with the assertion that it refers to the practice of the Italian ladies in using it to 

 enhance their charms as an accessory to the toilette. Belladonna is supposed to make 

 the beautiful still more lovely, owing to its action on the pupils of the eye, which, on 

 a slight application, it dilates, and renders brilliant and lustrous. Dr. Prior tells us 

 that it is known in France as guitiea de cdtes, being tised as a cosmetic. Stapel in 

 Tlmophrasto takes it for the hellonaria used by the priests of Bellona to infuriate 

 themselves, and hence derives its name. Be this as it may, I am told that the use of 

 the beautifying extract is not confined to the land of cloudless skies and sunny breezes, 

 but may be seen on the toilette tables of our fashionable English ladies. Happily, this 

 property is turned to good account by modern science, and in examinations of the 

 eye for surgical purposes extract of belladonna is found to be of great service in 

 dilating the pupil, as well as previous to the operation for cataract. Very many are 

 the instances where death has ensued from partaking of this plant or its berries ; and 

 we cannot read the records of poison cases without being convinced of its terrible 

 nature. The action of the poison on the human frame is peculiar, at first occasioning 

 diminished sensibility, but sometimes febrile symptoms ; it soon produces giddi- 

 ness and delirium, accompanied by a remarkable enlargement of the pupils of the 

 eyes. Dr. Taylor mentions several well-marked cases of poisoning by Belladonna, and 

 states that in the autumn of 1846 many persons in the metropolis sufiered from eating 

 the ri]ie berries, sold openly in the streets as edible fruit. Two of these persons died, 

 and the man who sold the berries was tried and convicted of manslaughter. The 

 usual action of the plant is detailed by Dr. Taylor in his work on poisons, and illus- 

 trated by numerous cases. One, " a boy fourteen years old, ate, soon after breakfast, 

 thirty of the berries which he had bought in the street. In about three hours it 

 appeared to him as if his face was swollen ; his throat became hot and dry, vision 

 impaired ; objects appeared double, and they seemed to revolve and run backwards. 

 His hands and face were flushed, and his eyelids tumid ; there were occasional flashes 

 of light before his eyes. He tried to eat, but could not swallow on account of the state 

 of his throat. In endeavouring to walk home, he stumbled and staggered, and he felt 

 giddy whenever he attempted to raise his head. His parents thought him intoxicated ; 

 he was incoherent, frequently counted his money, and did not know the silver from 

 the copper coin. His eyes had a fixed, brilliant, and dazzling gaze. He could neither 

 hear nor speak plainly, an.d there was great thirst. He caught at imaginary objects 

 in the air, and seemed to have lost all knowledge of distance. His fingers were in 

 constant motion ; there was headache, but neither vomiting nor purging. He continued 

 in this condition for two days, when he began gradually to improve, and eventually 

 recovered." In many cases strange spectral illusions occur, followed by complete deli- 

 rium ; but these symptoms are sometimes absent, and perfect insensibility shortly 

 follows after swallowing the poison. A medical friend of ours, enthusiastic in the 

 discovery of hidden truth, not long ago nearly fell a victim to his own experiments on 

 the action of an extract of the leaves of Ati-ojja JSelladonna. He had previously made 

 known his belief that animal charcoal is the best and safest antidote to vegetable 

 poisons. He was, however, too much under the influence of the poison to think of 

 his own remedy, and it was only by the timely interference of a member of his family, 

 who knew of the discovery, that his life was saved. Belladonna is a favourite remedy 

 in homoeopathic medicine ; but as the doses given are inappreciable, it would be difficult 

 to trace any results from their administration. As an anodyne, Belladonna is frequently 

 given in i-egular practice. It is said to alleviate pain in neuralgia, ticdoloureux, and 



