BLACK HENBANE. 259 



moptysis ; and a troublesome cough, which accompanied the last- 

 mentioned complaint, was completely appeased by the repeated use 

 of the extract, which in several disorders was often found to pro- 

 duce sleep more powerfully than opium. The success of hyoscy. 

 amus in these cases, (many of which were said to be of long dura, 

 tion, and to have resisted the effects of other remedies) is also con- 

 firmed by Collin, who extended the dose of the extract, hyoscyami, 

 to twenty-four or thirty grains per diem. But from the experiments 

 made of this medicine by Greeding, who tried it in forty cases of 

 melancholia, mania, and epilepsia, the result was very different : yet 

 while his practice shews that no beiu-fit is to be expected in these 

 three diseases, it tends to prove that this medicine is a useful anodyne; 

 and as it usually opens the body, it may be advantageously substi- 

 tuted for opium, where the astringency of the latter becomes an 

 objection to its use. Dr. Cullen says, " that in epilepsy, and various 

 convulsive affections, for which Baron Stoerck particularly recom- 

 mends the extract of henbane, we have very frequently employed 

 it, but have never found it of any great virtue, nor of more than 

 what we have found in opium. We have, indeed, found the hyo- 

 scyamus to be often an agreeable anodyne and soporiferous medi* 

 cine ; and we have frequently found it such in persons who, from 

 particular circumstances, did not agree with opium, and particularly 

 because it was less binding to the belly than opium. We judge, 

 however, that it is more ready in full doses to give delirium than 

 opium is, and therefore we found it in many cases to give turbulent 

 and unrefreshing sleep ; and notwithstanding its laxative qualities, 

 for which we had employed it, we have been obliged to lay it aside." 

 Stoerck and some others recommend this extract in the dose of one 

 grain or two ; but Dr. Cnllen observes, that he seldom discovered 

 its anodyne effects till he had proceeded to doses of eight or ten 

 grains, and sometimes to fifteen, and even to twenty. 



The leaves of henbane are said to have been applied externally 

 with advantage in the way of poultice, to resolve scirrhous tumours, 

 and to remove some pains of the rheumatic and arthritic kind. 



[Haller. Phil. Trans. Lewis. fVoodv. 



S2 



