I 



NIGHTSHADE. c 25 3 



the eye, which had put on a cancerous appearance, was much 

 mended by the internal use of the Belladonna : but the patient 

 having learned somewhat of the poisonous nature of the medicine, 

 refused to continue the use of it, upon which the sore again spread, 

 and was painful ; but upon a return to the use of the Belladonna, 

 was again mended to a considerable degree: when the same fears 

 again returning, the use of it was again laid aside, and with the 

 same consequence of the sore becoming worse. Of these alternate 

 states, connected with the alternate use of, and abstinence from, the 

 Belladonna, there were several of these alternations which fell under 

 my own observation.'' 



The sensible effects produced by the leaves of this plant tp.ken in 

 medicinal (i-oses, are usually by the skin, kidnies, and sometimes 

 by the intestinal canal : in larger doses troublesome dryness of the 

 mouth and throat, giddiness, and dimness of sight are experienced. 



That the advantages derived from the internal use of the Bella- 

 donna are only in proportion to the evacuations effected by it, is a 

 conclusion we cannot admit as sufficiently warranted by the facts 

 adduced upon this point. 



As this plant is very uncertain in its operation, the proper dose 

 is with difficulty ascertained : the most prudent manner of adminis- 

 tering it is by beginning with one grain or less, which may be gra- 

 dually increased according to its effects. Six grains are considered 

 as a very large dose, ^ith respect to the berries, so successfully 

 employed as an anodyne, by Gesner and others, in dysenteries, a 

 small spoonfull (co.ch. parvum) of a syrup of the juice was the 

 dose given. 



The root seems to partake of the same qualities as the leaves, 

 but is less virulent. 



2. Solanum Dulcamara. Woody Nightshade. 



The stalk is slender, climbing, alternately branched, somewhat 

 angular, brittle, hollow, and frequently rises above six feet in 

 height : it is covered with bark of an ash-colour, and that of the 

 young branches is of a purple hue : the leaves are long, oval, pointed, 

 veined, and many of those near the top are halbert shaped, but the 

 lower leaves are entire, and of a deep green colour : the flowers 

 hang in loose clusters or cymae ; the corolla is monopetalous, wheel- 

 shaped, divided into five pointed segments, which are bent back- 

 wards, of a purple colour, and the base of each marked with two 



