40U HENBANE, 



greatly iliminishes. It has been employed with decided ad- 

 vantage in mania in combination with camphor *, and is very 

 efficacious in allaying the irritation occasioned by red sand in the 

 kidneys -f. As an external application its sedative effects are 

 very conspicuous. A cataplasm of the leaves has been found 

 useful in assuaging gouty and rheumatic pains, and various 

 inflammatory swellings. Tournefort ^ recommends a decoction of 

 the same in milk to dissipate coagulated milk in the female breast. 

 Fomentations with a decoction of the leaves are also stated to 

 be beneficial in sprains, luxations, and bruises, scrofidous and 

 cancerous ulcers, haemorrhoids, &c. Hufeland recommends 

 the leaves and marsh-mallow flowers boiled in milk, with the 

 addition of a few grains of acetate of lead, as a topical applica- 

 tion in scrofulous ophthalmia. An infusion of this plant dropped 

 into the eye causes dilatation of the pupil like belladonna, and 

 being milder in its action, it is sometimes employed prior to 

 the operation for cataract. The smoke of the dried leaves, 

 or of the seeds received through a funnel, is a popular remedy 

 for tooth-ache. 



The extract §, prepared in the same way as that of hemlock» 

 is the usual form of administering this remedy. The dose is 

 from three to five grains, gradually increased to one scruple, 

 made into pills. In chronic rheumatism it is usefully combined 

 with blue pill and compound powder of ipecacuanha. 



TINCTURE OF HENBANE 1|. 

 Take of dried leaves of Henbane, .four ounces; 



Proof spirit two pints. 



Macerate for fourteen days and filter. 



This is a valuable narcotic, in the dose of a drachm at bed- 

 time, to be taken in a saline draught. In diarrhoea, a few drops 

 of laudanum should be added to correct its laxative effects. 



The depurated juice of the plant and the powdered leaves 

 are now rarely administered ; the latter were given in the dose 

 of two to ten grains. The leaves, mixed with lard and simmered 

 over a slow fire, are made into an ointment, and in the same 

 manner with different resins into a plaister, to be applied to 

 tumours and other painful affections. 



* Thomson's Dispensatory, p. 393. -j- Brande's Pharmacy, p. 125. 



+ Plantes de Paris, torn i. p. 342. 



^ Extractum Hyoscyami. — Pharm. Lond. Duhl. Ed. 



II Tinctura Hyoscyami. — PJiarm. Lond. Ed, Dull. 



