190 SOLANUM DULCAMARA 



sweet which, is given to the plant. They consist of a thin shining 

 bark surrounding the wood, which is lined internally by a whitish 

 pith, but as this only partially fills the axis the centre is hollow. 



The composition of dulcamara has been variously given by 

 different chemists. The taste is said to be due to a bitter principle, 

 which yields by decomposition an alkaloid solania, and sugar. A. 

 bitterish- sweet, amorphous alkaloid, called dulcamarine or picro- 

 glycion has also been obtained from dulcamara by Winckler. 



Medical Properties and Uses. The action of dulcamara is 

 unknown. Garrod states that it does not dilate the pupils or pro- 

 duce dryness of the throat like belladonna, henbane, or stramonium, 

 but it seems to act on the skin and kidneys. It is reputed to 

 operate as a diuretic and diaphoretic, and in excessive doses as an 

 aero-narcotic poison. It has been thought serviceable in chronic 

 pulmonary catarrh, in chronic rheumatism, in some obstinate skin 

 diseases, as lepra, eczema, and psoriasis, and in cachectic cases, in 

 which sarsaparilla has been found beneficial. Waring states that 

 with fresh Hemidesmus root at hand the practitioner in India is 

 independent of this article. In this country it is but very little 

 esteemed, and several physicians have given the preparations of 

 dulcamara in very large doses without any obvious effects. 



Pereira Mat. Med., vol. ii, part 1, p. 592 ; Pharmacographia, by 

 Fliickiger and Hanbury, p. 405 ; United States Dispensatory, 

 by Wood and Bache, p. 370 ; Garrod, Essentials of Materia 

 Medica, 1868, p. 285 ; Pharmacopoeia of India, p. 179. 



DESCEIPTION OP PLATE. 



Drawn from a specimen gathered in the Regent's Park, London. 1. A 

 branch of the year with flowers and fruit. 2. Half of the corolla. 3. Vertical 

 section through ovary. 4. The stamens flattened out. 5. Calyx with pistil. 

 6. Transverse section of ovary. 7. Ditto of berry. 8. Seed. 9. Section of 

 the same. (27 enlarged ; 8, 9 much magnified.) 



