489 



MEDICAL BOTANY. 



pain and nervous irritation, and as an antispasmodic. It has also been much 

 praised as a resolvent or discutient, in scirrhus and cancer, but it does not 

 appear to act more favourably than any other powerful narcotic. In dis- 

 eases of the eyes it is much employed, from its property of dilating the pupil 

 when locally applied, and hence becomes very useful in the operation for 

 cataract, and where it is wished to examine the condition of the inner por- 

 tions of the visual organs. It has also proved useful where there is a 

 morbid sensibility to light, and also in iritis, to prevent or to destroy adhesions. 



Some years since it acquired great credit, especially in Germany, as a pro- 

 phylactic in Scarlatina; for this purpose it was introduced by Hahnemann, 

 the founder of the Homoeopathic school, on the ground that as it caused an 

 affection of the throat, and an eruption on the skin resembling those of scarlet 

 fever, it would prevent or cure this latter, according to his axiom of" similia 

 similibus curantur." A fair trial was given to it, and the result was a com- 

 plete failure, at least, to use the words of Pereira, " all the facts brought for- 

 ward in favour of the existence of this prophylactic power are only negative, 

 while those that can be adduced against it are positive." Dr. Sigmond gives 

 an instance where eleven persons in one family took the medicine as a preven- 

 tive, and yet every one of them contracted the disease. (Pereira, Flem. ii. 316.) 



The dose of the powder is one grain, to be gradually increased until the 

 action of the remedy is manifested by dryness of the throat, and dilatation of the 

 pupil. For children, the dose at first should not exceed an eighth of a grain. 

 It is generally, however, given in extract, in the same way. The strength of 

 this preparation is very variable, and it is safest therefore always to begin its 

 use in small doses. 





2. A. mandragora, Linn. — Stemless. Scapes 1 -flowered. 

 Fig. 217. 



A. mandragora. 



Linn., Sp. PI. 

 249 ; Flor. Med., ii. 

 62; Woodville, ii. 

 234, t. 83. 



Common Name. 

 — Mandrake. 



.Foreign Names. 

 — Mandragore, Fr. ; 

 Abrauntollkraut,(r./ 

 Mandragora, It. 



Description. — Root 

 fusiform, very large and 

 long-, of a greenish- 

 brown colour, smooth, 

 often bifurcate. Stem- 

 less. Leaves radical, 

 large, sessile, forming 

 a dense tuft. Scapes 

 many, 1 -flowered, short. 

 Flowers whitish-green, 

 with a purplish tinge, 

 infundibuliform, some- 

 what tomentose. Fruit 

 large, round, yellowish 

 berries, containing se- 

 veral white, reniform 

 seeds. 



This plant is a 

 native of the coun- 



