36 



MATERIA MEDICA. 



Fig. 5. 



Henbane. — (Hyoscyamus, U. S.) 



Leaves and seeds of the Hyoscyamus niger, a biennial plant (Fig. 5), 



native of England, growing from 

 one to three feet high ; thickly- 

 furnished with sessile leaves, of a 

 pale green colour. All parts abound 

 in narcotic properties, but the leaves 

 and seeds alone are officinal. The 

 leaves of the second year, and of 

 plants grown in sunny situations, 

 are said to be the strongest. They 

 ought to have a mucilaginous, 

 slightly bitter taste, and should re- 

 tain some of the narcotic odour of 

 the plant. They depend for their 

 virtues upon a peculiar crystalline 

 alkaline principle, named hyoscya- 

 'min ; this is yielded to water and 

 alcohol. 



Effects. — Very slightly, if at 

 all, excitant ; narcotic, anodyne, 

 and soporific ; resembles opium in 

 moderate doses, except that it does 

 not constipate. Large doses occa- 

 sion dizziness, dilatation of the 

 pupil, and slight delirium. It may- 

 be used in cases requiring the exhibition of a gentle anodyne and 

 calming remedy. It is given in 'powder^ — dose, 5 to 10 grains ; in 

 extract, (inspissated juice) — dose, 3 to 10 grains ; in tincture, — dose, 

 f3j. The preparations of hyoscyamus, as found in the shops, are 

 very variable. 



Thornapple. — (Stramonitjbi, U. S.) 



The Datura stramonium (Fig. 6) is an annual, very common in 

 different parts of the world, growing from 3 to 6 feet high. All 

 parts are acrid and narcotic, but the leaves and seeds only are used 

 in medicine. These owe their efficacy to a very poisonous peculiar 

 principle called daturia. 



Effects. — A strong acrid narcotic ; diminishes sensibility, causes 

 cerebral disturbance, as manifested by giddiness, headache, dilata- 

 tion of the pupil, and obscurity of vision ; also, calmative and anti- 

 spasmodic ; occasionally will produce diaphoresis and diuresis. 



JJsecl, — in neuralgia, rheumatism, epilepsy, and mania ; also in 

 spasmodic asthma, where it is employed by smoking the dried leaves 

 or root in a common pipe ; caution is required in the case of the 



