192 DESCRIPTIVE BOTANY. 



Geography. — The geographical distribution of the belladonna is not wide: 

 it is found in the middle parts of the north temperate zone, in Europe, western 

 Asia, and eastern North America. 



Etymology. — Atropa was named for Atropos, one of the tliree Fates, daugh- 

 ter of Night, whose office it was to sever the thread of human life, — repre- 

 senting tliereby the deadly character of this poisonous plant. Belladonna, the 

 specilic name, is from two Spanish wonls, bdla and donna, and signifies " fine 

 lady ; " it is supposed to have been so styled because the fine ladies of Italy 

 used it as a beautifier. The reason for the name nightshade is not apparent. 

 Mandragora is derived from fxavSpa, pertaining to oxen or cattle, and dypios, 

 cruel, and relates to the poisonous effect this plant has upon cattle when it is 

 accidentally eaten with their food. 



History. — This plant was known to medical practice in the time of Theo- 

 phrastus, and is supposed to be the plant whose fruit was eaten by Anthony's 

 famished army (while retreating before the Parthians), by which so many 

 were poisoned. It is also supposed to have played a part in the destruction 

 of Sweyn's army when he invaded Scotland. A truce was agreed upon, and 

 during the cessation of arms the Scots were to furnish food. They mixed 

 the juice of the atropa berries with the bread and drink, which produced an 

 intoxicating effect upon the Danes ; and while in the deep sleep which suc- 

 ceeded, the Scots fell upon and slew them. 



It is indigenous to Europe and western Asia, and was brought to North 

 America by colonists, and in a few places, according to Dr. Gray, has escaped 

 from cultivation. 



Chemistry. — Atropa belladonna yields to the chemist two substances, 

 atropine and belladonine. 



These are the active principles of the plant, and are found in all its parts, — 

 leaves, fruit, and bark. 



Use. — Belladonna is administered in extract tincture, and in the form of 

 plasters and ointment' All parts of the plant yield an active narcotic poison. 

 It relieves inflammation, soothes irritation, and allays nervous excitement. 

 It is used by oculists to cause insensibility or temporary paralysis of the retina. 

 It is much used in homoeopathic practice, especially in scarlet fever, and con- 

 sidered by this school a specific. When taken in large quantities it causes 

 intoxication, accompanied by fits of laughter, ending in convulsions and 

 death 



CAPSICUM, L. - Calyx, short, broad, bell-shaped, dentate, with 5 

 bristle-like teeth; corolla wheel-shaped, deeply 5-cleft, divisions or 

 lobes valvate ; stamens slender, rising from the base of the corolla ; 

 anthers short, opening lengthwise ; disk inconspicuous : style thread- 

 like ; stigma club-shaped ; ovary usually 3-celled ; ovules numerous. 

 Fruit a berry, with a thick or thin inflated pericarp, leathery or succu- 

 lent, erect or nodding, globose, conical, linear, or oblong. Seeds flat, 

 rough or smooth. Annual herb. Pedicels solitary or in pairs. 



1. C. annuum, L. (Bed Pepper.) Stem smooth, crooked branching, 2 to 3 

 feet high. Leaves egg-shaped, smooth, entire, on long foot-stalks. Flowers 

 axillary, solitary, white; calyx tubular, with 5 small divisions; corolla wheel- 

 shaped, in .5 divisions, plaited, and pointed ; filaments short and tapering ; 

 anthers oblong ; ovary egg-shaped ; style slender, longer than the filaments j 



