DATURA ALBA 179 



The dry leaf is smoked to abort asthma, and though its ac- 

 tion is uncertain, it is one of the many remedies that should be 

 tried, which though ineffective in one case may in another af- 

 ford positive relief in this distressing disease. Not more than 

 1.50 grams should be smoked in one day and their use should 

 be discontinued if any symptom of intoxication supervenes. The 

 Pharmacopoeia of India contains a tincture made from 75 grams 

 of the ground seeds and 500 grams of alcohol. Dr. Waring 

 states that 20 drops of this tincture are equivalent to 6 centi- 

 grams of opium and that in some cases it has given him better 

 narcotic results than the opium. The extract is made from 

 500 grams of the powdered seeds, 500 cc. ether, 500 cc. al- 

 cohol and 500 cc. water. Dose, 5-20 centigrams a day in 4 

 doses. 



The D. fastuosa, L., known in Manila by the common name 

 of Talamponay na itim, Tag., possesses the same properties as 

 the above. The Filipino physician, Sr. Zamora, successfully 

 employed a poultice of bruised leaves cooked in vinegar and ap- 

 plied to the forehead and backs of the hands to reduce the fever 

 of tuberculous patients. 



Neither the leaves nor seeds of these two varieties of Datura 

 have been studied from a chemical standpoint, but there is little 

 doubt that the active principle is the daturine (atropine and 

 hyoscyamine) that exists so abundantly in D. Stramonium. 



BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION. Plant 5-6 high, with nodose 

 branches, forked. Leaves ovate, angled, somewhat downy. 

 Flowers large, white, axillary, solitary. Calyx tubular, 5- 

 toothed. Corolla funnel-shaped, the limb 5-angled and 5-folded. 

 Stamens 5, same length as calyx. Anthers long, flattened. 

 Stigma thick, oblong, divisible in 2 leaves. Seed vessel globose, 

 thorny, 4-valved over the base of the calyx. Seeds numerous, 

 flattened, kidney-shaped. (Resembles closely the common 

 Jamestown Weed of America, though much taller with much 

 larger flowers.) 



