SOLANACEiE. 4Q3 



which is very analogous to, if it be not identical with Solanina, a peculiar 

 Oil, and an Animalized extractive; they have not been given remedially, but 

 it is probable that they will be found to possess the properties of those of 

 many others of the genus. The fruit contains a peculiar acid, and a brown, 

 tarry, odorous, resinous matter, with some indications of the presence of an 

 alkaloid. {Jour. Phil. Coll. Pharm. iv. 224.) They form a very healthy 

 article of food, and are stated to act on the biliary functions in a very marked 

 manner. 



Another edible fruit of this genus, is furnished by the S. melongena, or 

 Egg-plant ; this is a native of India and Arabia, where it has long been used 

 for food. There are several species known as Egg-plants, besides the above, 

 the S. ovigerum, S. muricatum, &c. The berries of the following are also 

 eaten: S. album, in China, according to Loureiro (Flor. Coch. i. 159); S. 

 cztkiopticum, which is a kind of Tomato, is esteemed in Japan (Flor. Jap. 

 92) ; S. aguivi, in Madagascar, according to Commerson (Encyclop. Bot. 

 iv. 304) ; S. quitamse : the fruit of this is as large and somewhat resembles 

 an orange in appearance and smell. 



Those with useful roots besides the Potato, are S. valenzualce, which is a 

 true tuberous root; it never grows large, but is as well-tasted as that of 

 the S. tuberosum ; it grows near Bogota, and is used in soup, according to 

 Feuillee (Plant. Med. iii. 62) ; the root and also the leaves of & trilobatum 

 are considered in India as beneficial in phthisis in the form of an electuary 

 (Ainslie, ii. 427) ; the root of S. manosum is employed in Jamaica as a 

 diuretic (Barham, Jam. PI. 117); Ainslie states that the root and fruit of 

 S.jacquini are prescribed in India as an expectorant (ii. 91); the juice of 

 S. bahamense, Lunan says, is employed in the West Indies in inflammation 

 of the throat (Hort. Jam. i. 152); the S. bulbocastanum, a native of Mexico, 

 has a tuberous root, which is a substitute for the potato. (Encyclop. Bot. 

 xi. 749.) 



Among the other numerous species of this genus may be mentioned S. 

 violaceum, the juice of the leaves of which is deemed beneficial in Malabar 

 in diseases of the lungs, and a decoction of them in cutaneous eruptions 

 (Hort. Malabar, ii. 195); S. oleraceum, the leaves of which are eaten in 

 some of the West Indies (Dunal) ; S. vespertilio, with whose berries the 

 women in the Canary Islands paint their cheeks; those of S. gnaphaloides 

 are used for the same purpose in Peru (Flor. Peruv. ii. 31); S.fcetidum, of 

 which the leaves are employed in Peru to cleanse ulcers (Nov. Gen. &c. iii. 

 34) ; S. indicum, — according to Ainslie, the root is thought efficacious in 

 dysuria and retention of urine (Mat. Ind. ii. 207) ; S. undatum, a woody spe- 

 cies, of Madagascar ; the root pounded and infused in wine is purgative ; in 

 small doses it arrests vomiting, and its decoction is used as a pectoral 

 (Encycl. Med. iv. 843) ; S. sodomeum, a native of the Cape of Good Hope, 

 has a large fruit, with a greenish pulp, which is acro-narcotic, occasioning 

 headache, stupor, and delirium ; the roots are acrid and bitter, and are used 

 by the Hottentots in dropsies (Hist. Lug. Bat. 574) ; S. saponaceum, — the 

 berries are employed in Peru as a substitute for soap (Flor. Per. ii. 39); jS. 

 paniculatum, — the juice of the berries and leaves are thought in the West 

 Indies to be deobstruent ; the fresh leaves are applied to wounds (Jour. 

 Chim. Med. v. 423) ; another West India species, S. mammosum, has a 

 large and poisonous fruit, which, according to Morin, contains malate of so- 

 lanina; its extract in small doses has been given in cardialgia, lepra, &c. 

 (Flor. Med. Antill. iii. 159); S.coagulans, — according to Forskal, the juice 

 of the berries is used in Egypt to coagulate milk (Flor. Egypt. 47) ; S. 

 cerrnuum is employed in Brazil as a sudorific in syphilis and gonorrhoea 

 (Martins). 



