SOLANACEiE. 487 



The Belladonna is a native of Europe, and is cultivated in this country; it 

 is also found in some parts of Asia, as Ainslie {Mat. Ind. i. 246) states it 

 is well known to the Arabians and Persians, but adds that he has never met 

 with it in India. It is generally found in places where the soil is rich and 

 moist, especially if it be calcareous. The specific name is said to have been 

 bestowed upon it in consequence of its having been used in Italy in the com- 

 position of cosmetics. The whole plant is officinal in some Pharmacopoeias, 

 but the leaves only are recognised in the United States. These, when fresh, 

 have an unpleasant smell, and a feeble bitterish, sub-acrid taste ; when dried 

 they have scarcely any odour, but the taste remains the same. 



It is difficult to ascertain at what time Belladonna was introduced as a re- 

 medial agent, as the ancient writers seem to have confounded this and the 

 Mandragora. The earliest certain reference to it is by Tragus, in 1532 

 (Historia), under the name of- Solanum hortense nigrum. It is supposed, 

 however, to be the plant referred to by Plutarch as causing the death of so 

 many of Antony's army during the Parthian war, as the symptoms were 

 very analogous to those produced by Belladonna. There can- be little doubt 

 that it is the poison alluded to by Buchanan {Rerum, Scot. Hist. 162), as 

 employed by Macbeth during a truce with the Danes, to poison the provisions 

 sent to them, as the description of the plant used will apply to no other than 

 the Belladonna. 



Brandes found the leaves to contain : super-malate of Atropia ; Pseudo- 

 toxin, with malate of Atropia ; Phytocolla; Gum, Starch, &c; besides these, 

 Richter states that they contain an acid, which he calls Atropic, and Lube- 

 kind has announced the existence of a volatile vegetable alkaloid, differing 

 from atropia, which he calls Belladonnin. Atropia when pure is in white 

 prismatic crystals, soluble in absolute alcohol and ether. Water at ordinary 

 temperature dissolves only about j^o^' but ta ^es up a much larger portion 

 when aided by heat. This solution has a disagreeable bitter taste. This 

 alkaloid is a very powerful poison, acting with energy in doses not exceeding 

 a tenth of a grain, and causing dilatation of the pupil when applied to the eye 

 in the minutest quantity. The best and simplest method of separating it is 

 that proposed by Mein {Jour. Phil. Coll. Pharm. vi. 314). 



Medical Properties. — Belladonna is a powerful narcotic, having, like many 

 other articles of its class, some diaphoretic and diuretic properties, and in 

 some rare cases has been known to produce salivation [Lancet, i. 403). In 

 small doses it acts as a sedative, and almost invariably causes a peculiar dry- 

 ness of the mouth and throat. In increased quantities it manifests a peculiar 

 influence over the cerebro-spinal system, causing dilatation of the pupils, dim- 

 ness or loss of vision, disturbance of the sense of hearing, vertigo, and mental 

 confusion, accompanied with difficulty of deglutition and articulation, a sense 

 of constriction in the throat, thirst, nausea and sometimes vomiting, and 

 oftentimes the appearance of a red eruption. When the quantity taken is 

 excessive, all these symptoms are greatly aggravated, the brain becomes 

 much affected, and delirium attended with violent gestures and fits of laughter 

 ensues, followed by a state of coma. The pupil becomes much dilated and 

 insensible to light, the face red and tumid, the stomach and bowels insuscep- 

 tible to impressions, and the whole nervous system prostrated ; where the case 

 terminates fatally, convulsions often precede the death. Dissection shows 

 much inflammation of the digestive organs, and it is said that the body soon 

 putrefies, it swells, becomes covered with livid spots, blood flows from the 

 natural openings, and the stench is intolerable. 



Notwithstanding the powerful effects of this article on the system, it is 

 much employed as a remedial agent, and has been recommended and used in 

 almost every form of disease, but more especially where it is wished to allay 



