382 SOLANACE.E 



ing a yellowish-white bark, its corky layer dark-brown or pale brown, indis- 

 tinctly radiate wood; pith rather hard, but becoming soft and spongy when 

 macerated in water. As compared to belladonna root, Coblentz concludes 

 that scopola rhizome is more constant in alkaloidal content; that it is to be 

 preferred to belladonna root in securing preparations of uniform standard. 



CONSTITUENTS. (See Belladonna.) 



ACTION AND USE. The action of scopola is about the same as that of belladonna, 

 but preparations of the rhizome have not been professionally recognized 

 until recently. The extract has been used as a substitute for the extract 



A 



FIG. 219. Scopola rhizome. A, Leaf scar. (Yt natural size.) (Photograph.) 



of belladonna in making of plasters. It has been stated that scopola costs 

 about forty dollars per ton, while belladonna costs three hundred dollars 

 per ton. 



STRAMONIUM. THORNAPPLE, JIMSON WEED 



The leaves and the seed are medicinal. 



BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS. Datu'ra stramo'nium Linne. Rank, narcotic, 

 poisonous annuals. Leaves ovate, sinuate-toothed. Corolla white, funnel- 

 form, the border 5-toothed. Fruit a 4-vatved, 2-celled capsule, the outer 

 side covered with prickles, longer toward the apex. 



HABITAT. Europe, Asia, and North America; almost universally dis- 

 tributed. 



507. STRAMONIUM. LEAVES 



The dried leaves of Datu'ra Stramo'nium or of D. tatula Linne. 



DESCRIPTION OF DRUG. These leaves, in the dried and broken state 

 resemble somewhat those of belladonna, but are lighter in color; 

 odor distinct, heavy, and narcotic; taste nauseous. Admixture of 

 more than 10 per cent, of stems or other foreign matter not permitted. 

 The drug should yield not less than 0.25 per cent, of total alkaloids. 

 Powder. Characteristicjelements : See Part ivJChap. I, B.| 



