SOLANACEiE. 491 



there seems but little doubt that it grows naturally in the East Indies. How 

 then is its presence at the time of the discovery to be accounted for in Ame- 

 rica? Rafinesque states positively that it has appeared in North America 

 since the discovery by the whites, and is known among the Indians as the 

 " white man's plant." He further states that its advance through the coun- 

 try can be traced from Virginia and New England, and that in the Western 

 States it is of very recent appearance, and that it is always found near habi- 

 tations ; never, like truly native plants, in woods or on the mountains. 



Some difference of opinion exists respecting the varieties of this plant, as 

 besides that with green stems and white flowers, two others are found in the 

 United States ; one with purple flowers and a purple stem, dotted with green, 

 and the second with a tall, viscid stem, somewhat pubescent leaves, and white, 

 declining flowers. The first of these has been considered to be the D. tatula, 

 and the other the D. metel; but they neither of them agree with the description 

 of these species, which are of foreign origin. Rafinesque has treated of them 

 as varieties of the D. stramonium,- under the names of tatuloides and mete- 

 hides. This appears to be the just view of the subject, especially as regards 

 the first, but is liable to some objections in respect to the meteloides, which 

 presents differences that are truly specific. Dr. Riddell (Synop. 77), in 

 speaking of D. metel, says that it occurs on the banks of the Ohio, and, on 

 the authority of Dr. Locke, suggests that the seed has been transported by 

 the river from Pittsburg, where the plant was at one time cultivated. 



The Stramonium is found in most parts of the United States, in Canada, 

 Mexico, and is said to extend to Peru. It flowers from May to September. 

 It has an unpleasant, narcotic smell, and a bitter and nauseous taste. When 

 it is dried, the odour, and much of the taste disappear, but this process does 

 not appear to diminish its active properties. The parts employed in medicine 

 are the leaves and seeds. Several analyses have been made of them, and 

 it has been found that their peculiar properties depend on the presence of a 

 vegetable alkali, which has received the name of daturia, which is very ana- 

 logous in its properties to hyoscyarnia, strongly dilating the pupil and exer- 

 cising a poisonous influence. Mr. Morries (Ed. Med. and Surg. Jour, xxxix. 

 379), has described an empyreumatic oil, closely allied to that from the fox- 

 glove, and capable of inducing very unpleasant symptoms. 



The effects of Stramonium are those of an acro-narcotic, very similar to 

 those of belladonna, but more marked on the secretory functions. In over- 

 doses it causes intoxication, nausea, delirium, loss of sense, drowsiness, mania, 

 loss of memory, convulsions, paralysis, cold sweats, excessive thirst, dilatation 

 of the pupil, &c. ; the pulse is not much affected for some time, and then rather 

 as regards strength than frequency, becoming in some cases almost imper- 

 ceptible, but still retaining its natural beat as to time. In some instances an 

 eruption resembling nettle-rash makes its appearance, either during the con- 

 tinuance of the other symptoms, or after these have been relieved. One of 

 the first and one of the most curious accounts of its effects, is given by Beverly 

 (Hist. Virgin. 121) ; he states, that " it was gathered very young, for a boiled 

 salad, by some soldiers sent thither (Jamestown), to quell the rebellion of 

 Bacon ; and some of them ate plentifully of it ; the effect of which was a very 

 pleasant comedy, for they turned natural fools upon it for several days. One 

 would blow up a feather in the air, another would dart straws at it with much 

 fury; another, stark-naked, was sitting up in a corner, like a monkey, grin- 

 ning and making mows at them,* a fourth would fondly kiss and paw his 

 companions, and sneer in their faces, with a countenance more antic than any 

 Dutch doll." This lasted eleven days, when they recovered, without any re- 

 collection of what had passed. 



