486 BELLADONNA 



diseases (cough, bronchitis, pneumonia, etc.). In many 

 cases it is preferable to morphine, as it does not constipate, 

 and very small doses suffice. For the dog it is five times 

 more toxic than morphine. Dose. Dogs, gr. ^th to 

 gr. Jth, in pill in solution. For horses heroin is generally 

 prescribed as a compound glycerol, containing -j-'g-th grain of 

 heroin in each drachm, in doses of about an ounce two or 

 three times a day. Dogs take lT|x. to Tl\xxx. 



BELLADONNA 



BELLADONNA FOLIA. Belladonna Leaves. The fresh leaves 

 and branches of Atropa belladonna, collected when the 

 plant is in flower. Deadly Nightshade. Nat. Ord 

 Atropacese or Solanacese. 



BELLADONNA RADIX. The root of Atropa belladonna, 

 collected in the autumn and dried. 



ATROPINA. Atropine. An alkaloid obtained from bella- 

 donna leaves or root. C 17 H 23 N0 3 . 



HOMATROPINJE HYDROBROMiDUM. Homatropine Hydro- 

 bromide. C 16 H 21 N0 3 .HBr. The hydrobromide of an 

 alkaloid prepared from tropine (B.P.). 



Belladonna grows wild in most parts of Great Britain, 

 especially about old walls, edges of plantations, and shady 

 places ; but the great demand for its preparations has led to 

 its extensive cultivation. It has a fleshy, wrinkled, branch- 

 ing, perennial root, a round, branched, reddish, downy, 

 annual stem, three to five feet high ; broadly ovate, acute, 

 entire, smooth leaves, supported on short leaf -stalks of a 

 sombre-green colour, and having a faint bitter taste ; pendu- 

 lous, dark-purple, bell-shaped flowers, appearing in June or 

 July ; a round, violet, berried, mawkish-tasted fruit, the size 

 of a small cherry, and containing numerous kidney-shaped 

 seeds. The plant has greatest activity towards the end of 

 June and throughout July, when flowering is over, and before 

 the fruit and seeds are ripe. 



The active alkaloid atropine occurs in the plant as a 

 bimalate. The leaves contain 0*46 per cent., the younger 

 roots as much as 0*60 per cent. It is prepared from a strong 



