252 VEGETABLE POISONS. 



minution, that the stomach often bears large and repeated doses of 

 tart. emet. (gr. 14.) without being brought into action; the pulse 

 is small, hard, quick, and subsultus tendinum, risus sardonius et 

 coma, generally precede death. The body being opened, inflamma- 

 tion has been discovered in the intestines, mesentery, and liver *. 

 And Boulducf found the stomach of a child eroded in three 

 places. It may be necessary to remark, that vinegar, liberally 

 drank, has been found very efficacious in obviating the effects of 

 this poison ; evacuations should however be always first promoted. 



The leaves of the belladonna were first used externally to discuss 

 scirrhous and cancerous tumours, and also as an application to ill 

 conditioned ulcers ; their good effects in this way at length induced 

 physicians to employ them internally for the same disorders, and we 

 have a considerable number of well authenticated facts which prove 

 them a very serviceable and important remedy -f . But it must 

 likewise be confessed, that many cases of this sort have occurred in 

 which the belladonna has been employed without success J : this, 

 however, may be said of every medicine ; and though Dr. Cullen re- 

 peatedly experienced its inefficacy, yet the facts he adduces in con- 

 firmation of the utility of this plant, are clear and decisive : " I have 

 had a cancer of the lip entirely cured by it; a scirrhosity in a wo- 

 man's breast, of such a kind as frequently proceeds to cancer, i 

 have found entirely discussed by the use of it ; a sore a little below 



Coram. Nor 1743, p. 61. 

 + Hist, del' Acad, des Sc. de Paris, 1703, p. 56. 



J Junker's Conspect. Ther. Gen. Ed. 1725 p. 491. Journ.de Med. ann. 

 1766. Timmermanns Progr, Mich. Albertus de Belladonna. Tib. Lambergen, 

 stated in the Phil. Trans, vol. 50, by Mr Pultney. Comment, de Rebu?, torn. 

 8, p. 654. Dnrlac Journ. de Med. t. 11, p. 449. Amoureux, 1. c. torn. 13. 

 p.47. Marteau I.e. torn. 14, p. 11. van. den. Block. 1. c. torn. 14, p. 108. 

 Ludw. Advers. Pract. vol. 1, P. 4, p. 637, and vol 2. p. 314. To which we may 

 add the later authorities of Bergius, (Mat. Med p. 128, vol. 1.) and Murray, 

 App. Med. vol. 1. p. 440. who used them successfully in convulsions and epi- 

 lepsy. The good effects of the berries may be learned from Gesner, Epist. 

 p. 34. Eph. N. C. ann. 3. Obs. 64. Smetius, lib. 4. p. 238. Mayerne Prax. 

 Med. Syntagm. Alt. p. 136. 



Heister Chirurgie, p. 328. Van. Der. Harr. over de Knierknoest-en Ranker 

 Gezveellen , p. 85. Van. Dovern. in litt. ad Timmermann Prog. Timmerman 

 Junr. ibid. Acrel, Chir Handelser. p. 40. De Haen Rat Med. torn. 2. p. 45. 

 Schmuckero Chirurg. Wahrnehmungen, torn. 2 p. 150. And some accounts 

 given of this plant by our own countrymen Gataker and Bromfiel J. 



