HYOSCYAMUS 387 



urine due to spasm of the neck of the bladder. Pal- 

 pitation of the heart is relieved by the sedative action 

 of the mydriatic upon the unstriated cardiac muscle. 

 Tetanus is favorably influenced by extract of belladonna 

 given in electuary. In this section may be included the 

 effect of small doses of belladonna in paralyzing the inhi- 

 bitory (splanchnic) nerve terminations in the bowels, and 

 thus assisting the action of peristaltic stimulants, as aloes 

 and strychnine. Pills containing aloin (gr.j), extractum 

 belladonnse alcoholicum foliorum (gr.|), and extractum cas- 

 carse sagradse (gr.^), form a useful laxative combination in 

 chronic constipation of dogs. 



Hyoscyamus. Hyoscyamus. (U. S. P.) 



Synonym. — Hyoscyami folia, B. P.; henbane, herba 

 hyoscyami, E. ; feuilles de jusquiame noire, Fr. ; bilsen- 

 krant, G. 



The leaves and flowering tops of Hyoscyamus niger 

 Linne (nat. ord. solanacese), collected from plants of the 

 second year's growth. 



Habitat. — Indigenous to England, the Continent, and 

 Asia, and naturalized in the northern part of the United 

 States. 



Description. — Leaves ovate, or ovate-oblong, up to 25 

 cm. long and 10 cm. broad ; sinuate-toothed ; the teeth large, 

 oblong or triangular, grayish-green, and, particularly on the 

 lower surface, glandular-hairy ; midrib prominent; flowers 

 nearly sessile, with an urn-shaped, five- toothed calyx, and a 

 light yellow, purple-veined corolla; odor heavy, narcotic; 

 taste bitter and somewhat acrid. 



Constituents. — Two alkaloids : hyoscyamine CuH^jN O3, 

 and hyoscine. The first resembles atropine in composition 

 and action. Impure, amorphous, commercial hyoscyamine 

 is a dark-brown fiuid and contains as its active principle 

 mainly hyoscine. 



IncompaiibUity. — Incompatible with caustic alkalies and 



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