222 ON ANIMAL AND 



the brain. For though the stomach be uniformly 

 and primarily affected in such instances, yet its 

 internal coat is not inflamed and abraded in the 

 same degree as when the acrid poison have been 

 administered ; while spasmodic affections of the 

 muscles, delirium, stupor, apoplexy, palsy, and 

 fatal convulsions, are the never failing conse- 

 quences of an excessive dose of the narcotic 

 vegetables, and which symptoms are immedi- 

 ately referable to tne brain and nervous system. 



The vegetable substances, which belong to 

 the above class, as they are to be found in this 

 country, are principally the atropa belladona, 

 or deadly nightshade ; the cicuta, or hemlock ; 

 the hyoscyamus, or henbane; the datura stra- 

 monium, or thorn apple ; the lauro cerasus, or 

 common laurel ; the digitalis purpurea, or fox 

 glove ; the aconitum, or wolfsbane ; and the in- 

 spissated juice of the papaver somniferum, or 

 opium. 



The Atropa Belladona, Solanum Let hale, or 

 Deadly Nightshade, which, from the berries hav- 

 ing an inviting appearance resembling black 

 grapes is sometimes eaten by children, is a very 

 active poison. It grows in many parts in this 

 country in shady situations, presenting its ripe 

 fruit in September. Its root sends up annually 

 several erect stems of a purple colour, from two 

 lo three feet in height, branching out with lateral 

 leaves in pairs, of a dusky green above, and of 



