VEGETABLE POISONS. 223 



a pale hue below. Its flowers, which bloom in 

 June, are bell-shaped ; producing berries, which, 

 as they are the most frequent cause of accidents, 

 we beg particularly to state are to be distinguished 

 when ripe, by their situation within the calyx or 

 cup, by their round form with a longitudinal furrow 

 on each side, by their deep purple colour with a 

 shining smooth skin, by their containing several 

 kidney-shaped seeds, and more especially, as 

 differing from the black grape, by the fruit being 

 double in the place of single. 



The effects of the belladoria as a poison, are 

 giddiness, difficult respiration, pain or tightness 

 at the chest, distressing thirst, dreadful ravings, 

 fatuity but no stupor, the jaws are frequently closed 

 as in tetanus, the eyes staring, the pupils dilated 

 and insensible to light, with universal agitation and 

 trembling (particularly the tongue,) difficulty in 

 swallowing, unavailing efforts to vomit, convul- 

 sions, and death. The body soon putrifies, swells 

 remarkably, and is covered with livid spots. 

 Blood flows from the mouth, nose, and eyes, and 

 the stench is unsufferable. 



There is another species of this plant to be 

 found in our hedges, named the Woody Night- 

 shade, which, from bearing beautiful red berries 

 resembling currants, also frequently attracts the 

 attention of children, who are sometimes induced 

 to eat the berries; which, as well as the plant, are 

 poisonous, though not in the same active degree 



