90 



DISTRIBUTION: It is widely distributed throughout the world except 

 in extreme north and south. In Canada it is found on shaded as well as 

 open ground from coast to coast. 



POISONOUS PROPERTIES: There seems to be no doubt that this plant 

 must be regarded as poisonous, but under certain conditions of soil and 

 climate the toxicity evidently varies. Thus we read that, the "berries 

 have been used instead of raisins for plum puddings, with no effects out 

 of the ordinary" (Ewart), and again "Children have been poisoned by 

 the berries, but may on occasion eat them with no other ill effect than a 

 stomach ache, or, if eaten in excess, sickness and purging" (H. C. Long). 

 Chesnut says: "The amount of poison present in any part of this plant 

 varies with the conditions of growth. The more musky-odoured plants 

 are the most poisonous. In some, the amount of alkaloid in the ripe fruit 

 and leaves is so small that these parts may be, and are, consumed in con- 

 siderable quantity without any ill consequences. Poisoning does some- 

 times follow, but it is not clear whether this is due to improper preparation 

 or to careless selection of the parts used. The use of black nightshade 

 for food is certainly not to be recommended." 



The common nightshade contains the alkaloid solanine, which is 

 found in larger quantities in the partially ripened berries. It also contains 

 solanidine which, though poisonous, is not violently so. H. C. Long says 

 "a small quantity of solanine is present in the stem and berries, but these 

 are probably less poisonous than green potatoes." 



ANIMALS AFFECTED: Cases of poisoning (see Chesnut) have been 

 recorded for calves, sheep, goats and pigs, and according to Lehmann, 

 Schraber, and Haller, the berries are poisonous to ducks and chickens. 



SYMPTOMS: The characteristic symptoms, as given by Chesnut, are 

 about the same in man and animals, i. e., stupefaction, staggering, loss 

 of speech, feeling, and consciousness; cramps, and sometimes convulsions. 

 The pupil of the eye is generally dilated. 



REMEDY AND MEANS OF CONTROL: As both the common nightshade 

 and the three-flowered nightshade are annual plants, they may be readily 

 exterminated by pulling or close cutting when in flower. If, however, 

 the fruits have already formed the cut tops should be buried in the compost 

 heap, where fermentation will destroy the vitality of the seed; or they may 

 be burned. 



BLACK HENBANE (Hyoscyamus niger L.) NIGHTSHADE OR POTATO 



FAMILY. 



PLATE XXXVI. 



COMMON NAMES: The black henbane is sometimes referred to as the 

 foetid nightshade, insane root, and poison-tobacco. 



