CLASS V. ORDER I.J HYOSCYAMUS, 275 



several cases; he raeiitious that of a cliild suddenly seized with 

 idiotcy, without fever. The pulse, he says, was natural, the tongue 

 clean, and no internal function disturbed, excepting that of the brain. 

 The boy appeared very happy, talking, laughing, and in constant 

 motion ; yet so weak, he could not stand or walk without tottering. 

 An emetic was administered, some seeds of the Stramonium were 

 vomited up, and the child shortly after recovered. Dr. Fowler also 

 has related the case of a little girl, who took a drachm and a half of 

 the seeds. In less than two hours she was attacked with maniacal 

 delirium, accompanied with spectral illusions, and she remained in this 

 state most of the following night, but had some intervals of lethargic 

 sleep. Next morning, after the operation of a laxative, she fell fast 

 asleep, and awoke after some hours quite well. The seeds have been 

 sometimes taken in mistake, and at others administered designedly, 

 sometimes producing death; but the symptoms produced when taken in 

 poisonous doses appear very variable. There is generally great deli- 

 rium, dilatation of the pupils, and stupor; sometimes there are spasms, 

 and palsy also occasionally occurs. Blood-letting, emetics, and pur- 

 gatives, are the remedies found to give relief, but bleeding seems to be 

 particularly called for, from the symptoms of determination of blood to 

 the head. 



The deleterious effects of this plant have also been produced by the 

 application of the leaves to the skin, when deprived of its cuticle, as in 

 the cases of burns. 



A poultice of the bruised leaves has been found an useful applica- 

 tion to inflammatory tumours, and an ointment made of the leaves is 

 said to be useful iu hoemorrhoides ; and the extract in doses of half a 

 grain, gradually increased to ten, twice a day, is said to have given 

 great relief in severe chronic pains; its use requires, howevei', great 

 caution. The dried leaves smoked in the manner of tobacco at one 

 time obtained for it great reputation in relieving the paroxysm of 

 spasmodic asthma, a practice introduced into England from Ceylon; 

 it has been, however, found so often to fail in its beneficial effects, as to 

 have lost much of its fame. 



As a garden flower it is not much admired; it is too spreadiug, and 

 but little ornamental. The flowers have a pleasant fragrance, espe- 

 cially at night, but it is not now much cultivated. 



GENUS XXIV. HYOSCVAMUS.— Linn. Henbane. 

 Nat. Ord. Solan 'e^, Juss. 

 Gen. Char. Calyx tubular, five-cleft, persistent. Corolla funnel- 

 VOL. I. 2 o 



