STEVEXsos] MEDICAL PRACTICES AND MEDICINAL PLANTS 47 



The root and flowers of Datura meteloides, ground together into 

 meal, are applied to wounds of every description b}- the directors of 

 the fraternities above mentioned. Wounds are said to heal rapidly 

 under this treatment. 



Datura stramonium acts very powerfully upon the cerebro-spinal system, causing 

 a line of symptoms shonving it to be a narcotic-irritant of high degree. The symptoms 

 collated from many cases of poisoning by this drug are: Vertigo, with staggering gait, 

 and finally unconsciousness; stupor and deep sleep, with stertorous breathing; mania, 

 wth loquaciousness or melancholia; hallucinations of terrif>-ing aspect, the patient 

 bites, strikes and screams, and throws the arms about, or picks and grasps at unattain- 

 able objects; congestive headaches, with dull beating and throbbing in the vertex. 

 The pupils are dilated, and the patient suffers from photophobia, diplopia, and 

 hemeralopia; the eyes are wide open, staring, and set, or are contorted, rolling, and 

 squinting. The face becomes red, bloated, and hot, the mouth spasmodically closed, 

 and the tongue dry and swollen; the patient suffers greatly from thirst, but the sight 

 of water throws him into a spasm and causes great constriction of the throat, foaming 

 at the mouth, and other symptoms similar to tho.se of hydrophobia. There is often 

 nausea, but seldom vomiting. The sexual functions are often excited, more especially 

 in women, in whom it causes nymphomania. Spasms of the muscles of the chest are 

 of frequent occurrence; inspiration is slow and expiration quick. Paralysis of the 

 lower limbs and loss of speech, with twit<hings and jerkings of the muscles often 

 mark a case. Its action will be seen to be similar to that of Belladonna, yet differing 

 in many rospect.s. 



A few of the many cases of poisoning by this plant will serve to show its mode of 

 action: 



Beverley states' that some of the soldiers sent to Jamestown to quell the rebellion 

 of Bacon gathered the young sprouts of Stramonium and ate them as a pottage, "the 

 Effect of which was a very pleasant Comedy; for they tum'-d natural Fools upon it 

 for several Days: One would blow up a Feather in the Air; another wou'd dart Straws 

 at it with much Fury; another, stark naked, was sitting up in a Corner, like a Monkey, 

 grinning and making Mows at them; a Fourth would fondly kiss and paw his Com- 

 panions, and snear in their Faces with a Countenance more antick than any in a Dutch 

 Droll ... A thousand such .simple Tricks they play'd, and after Eleven Days, 

 retum'd to themselves again, not remembering anj-thing that had pass'd." 



J. R. Dodge states^ that "Datura meteloides grows abundantly on the Colorado 

 River, in Arizona, and that the Mohave Indians gather the leaves and roots, bruise 

 and mix them with water, and after being allowed to stand several hours, the liquid 

 is drawn off. It is a highly narcotic drink, producing a stupefjnng effect, which is 

 not very easy to remove." . . . The California Indians use a decoction of this .species 

 to stimulate young females in dancing. The Pah-Utes call the plant Main-oph-weep; 

 they ferment in the sun a watery infusion of the bruised seeds and drink the liquor 

 for the purpose of intoxication.' 



Dr. Schle.sier met a case * in which the subject, a boy, at. 4, mistook the fruit 

 of stramonium for poppy heads, and ate a quantity of them. "Soon afterward his 

 face was flushed, his eyes were glistening and in constant motion, the pupils much 

 dilated, and the countenance was that of an intoxicated person. He sat up in bed 

 quite unconscious, but continually babbling and occasionally starting up suddenly, 

 his hands apparently directed at imaginary objects in the air. His pulse was very 



1 History of Virginia, Book n, p. 24, London, 1705. 

 « U. S. Agric. Rep. ls:o. p. 423, Washington, 1871. 

 = Dr. Ed. Palmer in ^raer.jVa/., 1878, p. 650. 

 * Canstatt, Jahrtmch, 1844, p. 297. 



