BEARBERRY 43 



one of the constituents of quercitron bark (Quercus discolor, Aiton), is hydro- 

 lysed by boiling with, dilute mineral acids. 



Ericolin, an ill-defined amorphous substance said to occur in this and other 

 Ericaceous plants, is probably a mixture. 



Substitutes. Bear-berry leaves are seldom adulterated ; the 

 leaves of the box (Buxus sempervirens, Linne) and of the cowberry 

 (Vaccinium Vitis-idcea, Linne) are reported to have been used for 

 that purpose, but are easily distinguished, as the former are emarginate 

 at the apex, and the latter have brown dots scattered over the under 

 surface of the leaf. 



Uses. Bearberry leaves are used as a stimulant, diuretic, and 

 antiseptic in diseases of the urino-genital tract ; they resemble buchu 

 in their action, but are more astringent. 



BELLADONNA LEAVES 



(Folia Belladonnas) 



Source, &C. The deadly nightshade, or belladonna, Atrdpa Bella- 

 donna, Linne (N.O. Solanacece) , is a tall branching herb with a perennial 

 root widely distributed over central and southern Europe ; in 

 England it is confined chiefly to the southern counties ; it also widely 

 cultivated not only in this country but also on the continent, in 

 India, in the United States, etc. 



The poisonous properties of belladonna were certainly known 

 towards the end of the fifteenth century, probably much earlier. 

 The leaves were introduced into the London Pharmacopoeia of 1809, 

 the root coming into use much later. 



The fresh leaves and branches of the plant are used for preparing 

 the juice and green extract of belladonna but only the dried leaves 

 are official. Considerable quantities are dried in this country ; much 

 is also imported. 



Description. The stem of the belladonna plant divides usually 

 a little above the ground into three large branches, each of which 

 branches again freely. The lower leaves are solitary, but the upper 

 are arranged in pairs, consisting of a large and a small leaf, the latter 

 being really a leafy bract. The flowers are solitary and pendulous ; 

 they have a dull purplish, campanulate corolla and superior, two- 

 celled, many-seeded ovary, which develops into a purplish black, 

 pulpy fruit. The leaves vary from 8 to 20 cm. in length, They are 

 ovate or broadly ovate, acute, entire, tapering towards the base, 

 and glabrous or nearly so, except when quite young, when, in common 

 with the young stems, they are softly pubescent. Both the midrib 

 and the lateral veins are prominent on the under surface. 



The dried leaves are thin, papery, and brittle ; they are usually 



