310 Botanic Drugs 



The common POTATO, Solanum tuberosum, yields 

 a starch official in four countries. The TOMATO, 

 Lycopersicum, is antiscorbutic and is recommended 

 in the treatment of rheumatism. The EGG PLANT, 

 S. melongena, carries an acrid juice. Phy sails alka- 

 kengi, GROUND CHERRY, as well as Physalis Penn- 

 sylvanica, are destitute of narcotic properties, but 

 are tonic and febrifuge and have had quite a vogue 

 in Europe in the treatment of intermittents. So- 

 lanum nigrum, NIGHTSHADE, is official in France, 

 Mexico, and Spain, and is used much as is bella- 

 donna. 



SOLANUM CAROLINENSE, HORSE-NETTLE, requires 

 separate mention. Thrush, in Phil. Med. Jour., 

 stated that it contains Solanine and Solanidine, both 

 antispasmodics. He recommended the drug in the 

 treatment of epilepsy, giving full doses. Some 

 drowsiness and stupor is produced by full dosage. 

 Other conditions in which solanum has been suc- 

 cessfully used as an antispasmodic are: hysteria, 

 eclampsia, chorea, neuralgia, spasmodic asthma, and 

 whooping cough. 



As solanine depresses the terminal motor plates 

 and narcotizes the medulla and cord (Desnos), 

 there is justification in the use of solanum as an 

 antispasmodic. Thrush reached the following con- 

 clusions from his studies: 



"1. It is of greatest value in grand mal of idio- 

 pathic type without hereditary taint and where the 

 disease has begun beyond the age of childhood. 



"2. It is perhaps next of greatest value in hystero- 

 epilepsy with marked convulsive seizures. In cases 

 of petit mal the drug does not seem to do the great 

 good we have noted in the major type of the disease. 



