380 ATROPA. I CLABS v< 



taking of this plant, for as delirium comes on some time before the 

 state of stupor ensues, suspicion is excited, and the stomach may be 

 emptied either by means of the stomach pump, or emetics, before the 

 poisonous quality has been absorbed in sufficient quantity to prove 

 fatal. After this has been done, the bowels ought to be cleared by 

 active purgatives, assisted by laxative injections. The drinking of 

 vegetable acids as vinegar, is also said to be useful. 



As a poison this plant appears to have been long known, and used 

 for treacherous purposes. Buchanan, the Scottish historian, relates 

 that the Scotch, under the command of Macbeth, owed their victory 

 over the Danes to their having given to the troops of Sweno, during a 

 truce, bread and a drink of ale and wine, in which was mixed the 

 poison of this plant. After very accurately describing the botanical 

 character of the plant, be adds, " vis fructui, radici, ac maxime semini 

 somnifera et quise in amentiam, si largius sumantur, agat." This 

 remarkable circumstauce appears not to have escaped the observation 

 of Shakspeare, for Banquo in his speech says, " Or have we eaten of 

 the insane root that takes the reason prisoner ?" It is supposed to 

 have been known even long before this period, for Plutarch in his 

 account of the Parthian war, when speaking of the want of provisions 

 by the soldiers of Mark Anthony, 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 knowledge, 

 but at the same time would busy himself in turning and moving every 

 tone he met with, as if be was upon some very important pursuit. 

 The camp was full of unhappy men, bending to the ground, and thus 

 digging up and removing stones, till at last they were carried off by 

 bilious vomiting, when wine, the only remedy, was not to be found." 



Medicinally, bella -donna is used in the form of extract and tincture ; 

 it is powerfully narcotic, and is said to have been found of use in 

 obstinate intermitlents, chronic rheumatism, gout, paralysis, amaurosis, 

 tpitepsy, and pertussis, as well as relieving painful neuralgic affections. 

 Its internal administration, however, requires much caution ; applied 

 externally we have seen it extremely useful in the form of a plaster, 

 combined with soap cerate, in relieving hooping cough ; also applied 

 m the form of ointment to painful, irritated scirrhus ulcers. The 

 extract smeared round the eye, or the tincture dropped into it, is well 

 known as shortly producing dilatation of the pupil, and is of the 

 greatest use previous to the performing certain operations oil the eye, 

 and in some diseases of the iris, upon the radiated fibres of which, 

 observes Mr. Adams, its operation seems to be limited. 



Bella-donna appears, from experiments that have been made, to 

 have the power of protecting individuals to whom it is administered 

 from the infection of scarlet fever, during the prevalence of that COD- 



