348 THORN-APPLE. 



of a candle, emitting narcotic fumes. The fresh leaves, accord- 

 ing to Promnitz, yield of extractive sixty, chlorophylle sixty- 

 four, albumen fifteen, resin twelve, gum fifty-eight, and of 

 different salts twenty-three parts. To these may be added a 

 volatile matter, which, according to Dr. Thomson, is carbonate 

 of ammonia, and a narcotic principle, which, however, is most 

 abundant in the seeds, in which Brandes has discovered it 

 combined with malic acid, and has named it Daturine or Da- 

 turia. The Daturia of Brandes is a volatile oily substance, 

 smelling strongly of the plant itself; but that of Geiger and 

 Hesse is a colourless crystalline alkaloid, of an acrid taste, re- 

 sembling tobacco. Moreover, an empyreumatic oil has been 

 obtained from Thorn-apple, similar to that of Henbane. 



Poisonous Properties. — We are not aware that the foliage of Stra- 

 monium is eaten by any animal ; even its odour is reputed noxious, and we 

 are credibly informed that cage-birds have died from being accidentally 

 placed near a bundle of the fresh gathered plant ; and that bees have been 

 seen to fall stupified and lifeless in their search for the nectar of the 

 flowers. 



The stupifying effects of the Thorn-apple have led to its employment 

 prior to the commission of some of the foulest acts of villainy. We are told 

 that the individual to whom it has been administered will look on during 

 the perpetration of the most daring acts of rapine on his own or his neigh- 

 bour's property, utterly regardless of the theft, and when consciousness 

 returns, has no recollection of any thing that has passed *. 



The Turks are said to use the extracts of the herb or the seeds as a sub- 

 stitute for opium, and the Chinese infuse the seeds of D. ferox in beer, to 

 produce intoxication and delirium, the use of this liquor is, however, for- 

 bidden by their laws f. 



The physiological effects of the extract have been determined by Orfila. 

 He found that half an ounce killed a dog within twenty-four hours after being 

 swallowed ; that a quarter of an ounce applied to a wound killed another 

 in six hours ; and that thirty grains killed another when injected into the 

 jugular vein. The symptoms were purely nervous, and not very promi- 

 nent %. Orfila concludes, that, like Belladonna, it acts through the blood- 

 vessels, and probably on the brain. 



* Murray {Mat. Med. torn. i. p. 672,) adds, " A mulierculis infidis Turcis 

 gynaecis inclusis, ad consopiendos et dementandos maritos, quo aliorum, 

 magis desideratorum, amplexibus satientur, usurpari, et Hamburgi a vetulft 

 sic honestam feminam, quo se inscia maechum admitteret intoxicatum 

 fuisse, narratur." 



f Spratt's Hist, of the Roy. Soc. 162. 

 ' ± Christison on Poisons, ed. iii. p. 768. 



