THORN-APPLE. 351 



Some of the American physicians speak highly of its effects in 

 epilepsy. Dr. Ives, of Nevvhaven, employed it successfully in 

 several cases of this disease, and others have found it useful in 

 chorea, dysmenorrhea, and sciatica *. Dr. Marcet f has com- 

 municated the result of his experience with it in acute pains of 

 different kinds; viz., in sciatica, in supposed disease of the 

 spine followed by paraplegia, in cancer of the breast, in a 

 case of acute uterine disease ; and in one instance of tic doulou- 

 reux. Professor Bigelow J states, that in a case of tic douloureux 

 of long standing, he found the extract, taken in as large a dose 

 as the stomach would bear, afford decided relief. In asthma, 

 an oxymel of the seeds especially has proved very serviceable. 

 Dr. Barton §, of Philadelphia, strongly recommends the ex- 

 hibition of the seeds in chronic rheumatism, — and, indeed, in the 

 acute stage of the disease, it may be employed in combination 

 with diaphoretics, when opium is inadmissible. In fine, as a 

 narcotic, Stramonium is generally allowed to be preferable to 

 the other Solanece, and the tincture is perhaps the best substi- 

 tute for opium. In general, it rather relaxes than constipates 

 the bowels, and frequently promotes perspiration and the flow 

 of urine ; but great care is necessary in its employment, unto- 

 ward effects having followed even an ordinary dose. One of 

 the best premonitory symptoms is a disordered state of vision. 

 Dr. Barton found that, when the dose of the dried herb was 

 increased to thirty grains, it dilated the pupil and produced 

 paralysis of the eyelids ; effects which were removed by a 

 blister. 



The Thorn-Apple has attracted much attention both in this 

 country and in America, as an efficacious palliative in asthma 

 and some other affections of the lungs, by inhaling the fumes 

 or smoking the plant in the same manner as tobacco. In 

 cases of pure spasmodic asthma, it often affords the most 

 astonishing and speedy relief. It produces an increased secre- 

 tion of saliva, which is to be swallowed, and facilitates expect- 

 oration ; excites a sensation of warmth in the chest, and its use 



* See Bigelow's Amer. Med. Bot. vol. i. part i. p. 22. 



-j- In Medico-Chirur. Trans, vol. vii. 



+ Med. Bot. I. c. 



§ Coll. Mat. Med. p. 46. 



