194 HYOSCTAMUS NIGER 



young branches, and hence they would then be probably more 

 active than the leaves, as they would in such cases be not only 

 assimilating organs, but also the receptacles for the products 

 and secretions formed in the surrounding parts. Hence, in 

 practice, in making preparations from herbaceous plants, we may 

 consider the young vitally active parts in immediate contact with 

 the leaves, as not materially differing in activity from them, and 

 that consequently they may be advantageously as well as economi- 

 cally used with them." Although the above description is neces- 

 sarily somewhat long, we have given it in full, because it is not 

 only applicable in the collection of Hyoscyamus leaves, but also 

 to those of several other plants noticed in this work. 



One hundred pounds of the fresh herb yield about fourteen 

 pounds when dried. The leaves of the biennial variety of hen- 

 bane gathered in the second year, at the time directed in the 

 British Pharmacopoeia, are regarded as the most active, and are 

 alone official in this country. But experiments upon the relative 

 merits of the annual and biennial varieties of Henbane are still a 

 desideratum. 



General Characters. The characters of the second year's 

 leaves, &c., are given in the British Pharmacopoeia as follows : 

 "Leaves sinuated, clammy, and hairy. The fresh herb has a 

 strong unpleasant odour, and a slightly acrid taste, which nearly 

 disappear on drying. The fresh juice dropped into the eye 

 dilates the pupil." In a dried state, henbane is sold in three 

 conditions. 1. The foliage and green tops of the Annual plant ; 

 2. the leaves of the first year's Biennial plant ; and 3. the 

 foliage and green tops of the Biennial plant. 



2. HYOSCYAMI SEMEN. Hyoscyamus Seed. Henbane Seed. 

 Henbane seeds are official as well as the leaves in the United States 

 Pharmacopoeia, but the latter are nevertheless alone ordered in the 

 preparations of that volume. Everywhere the leaves are more 

 commonly employed, and are most esteemed. Hyoscyamus seeds 

 are small, somewhat compressed, roundish, finely reticulated, of a 

 brownish colour, an oleaginous bitter taste, and with the same 

 odour as the plant. 



