996 



a result of no mean irapoitance. As a proof of this statement, the 

 Atropaceae, from its botanical characters, comprehends the genera 

 Atropa, Mandragora, Datura, containing almost twenty poisonous 

 species, Hyoscyamus, and Nicotiana, all of which are eminently poi- 

 sonous, and, with the exception of the last genus, and this rather 

 doubtful, possessed of the power of dilating the pupil, and rendering 

 the iris insensible to the stimulus of light. Since the first introduc- 

 tion of the natural systems, this action on the pupil has been consi- 

 dered as a most characteristic mark of the Solanaceae, along with 

 well-defined narcotic properties ; but the order was known to contain, 

 besides some plants of very feeble narcotic properties, many others 

 entirely destitute of any such action. Among these may be men- 

 tioned the Solanum nigrum, S. Dulcamara, S. tuberosum, S. olera- 

 ceum, S. auriculatum, S. aethiopicum, and S. esculentum, used as 

 food ; S. crispum, considered a tonic by the natives of S. America, 

 and, in truth, the vast genus Solanum, composing nearly one-sixth of 

 the order, is not to be designated a poisonous genus. To mention 

 another anomaly in the old order : the various species of Capsicum 

 are stimulant, and in considerable doses have caused death, from 

 inflammation of the alimentary canal ', but they never produce the 

 slightest approach to narcotism. 



When Mr. Miers's characters are applied to the old order, all its 

 known narcotic plants are allotted to the Atropaceae ; and the author 

 thought he might safely say that, in the Solanaceae, there is not one 

 plant deserving the appellation of a narcotic. The only statement he 

 found about any plants of Miers's Solanaceae producing dilatation of 

 the pupil, is by M. Dunal, in an essay published many years ago, in 

 which he said he thought he had seen Solanum nigrum, S. villosum, 

 S. nodiflorum, and S. miniatum, on their expressed juice being applied 

 to the eye, produce a very slight dilatation, and insensibility of the 

 organ to a bright light ; and this condition, he further remarks, con- 

 tinues only from four to five hours ; but up to this time Mr. Ander- 

 son had found no authentication of these remarks. 



When we examine the alkaloids of the two families, we find the 

 same difference in their action. Solanine, derived from many sources, 

 although poisonous, does not, on the authority of Soubeirn, dilate the 

 pupil ; whereas all the alkaloids of the Atropaceas, such as atropine, 

 hvoscyamine, and daturine, and perhaps nicotine, exert a wonderful 

 power on the iris, even in very minute quantity. 



Mr. Anderson concluded his remarks with the wish that Mr. Miers's 

 modifications may be generally adopted, as keeping pace with our 



