HYOSCYAMUS NIGER. i>5 
although a powerful anodyne, is free from the constipating effects of 
opium, it often acts on the bowels as a gentle aperient ; in moderate 
doses, it generally produces undisturbed sleep, followed by recruited 
energy of the animal functions. In all spasmodic and many nervous 
diseases it is given with decided benefit ; in rheumatism, glandular 
swellings, induration of the mamma, cancerous and scrofulous swell- 
ings and ulceration, the external and internal use of henbane is 
generally attended with the happiest effects. Of late years, the 
extract of henbane, in solution, has been much used by surgeons, 
previous to operating for cataract, for dilating the pupils of the 
€yes ;* and in contractions of the iris, a few drops of the solution 
is dropped in the eyes, or otherwise applied with a camel's-hair 
pencil. The most powerful effects of this application generally 
take place in about four hours, and are usually over in ten or twelve; 
as a topical remedy, the bruised leaves combined with bread-crumb 
are applied in the form of poultice ; in cancerous and other painful 
ulcers, the dried leaves powdered and sprinkled on the sores, or 
mixed with simple ung: generally relieve the sufferings of the patient. 
The smoke arising from burning the seeds of henbane, conveyed to 
carious teeth, is a popular, and often an effectual remedy in tooth- 
ache. Henbane is generally given in the form of extract, or inspis ■ 
sated juice, and in tincture, the former in doses of one grain, gradually 
increased to eight, ten, or more for a dose, two or three times a day, 
the latter in doses from ten to thirty minims. Dr. Cullen savs he' 
seldom found any considerable anodyne effects produced from" less 
than eight or ten grains, and often found it necessary to increase tffe 
dose to fifteen or twenty, in maniacal cases it has been increased to 
thirty grains for a dose. In phthisis we have seen it prescribed with 
much advantage in abating the cough and procuring rest.f In spas- 
modic disease, the Tincture Hyoscyanii will often afford relief where 
opium fails; we have prescribed it in spasm of the gall ducts, in 
doses of thirty or forty minims, with immediate relief, when opium 
in large doses had no effect; in tic-doul(^eux we have seen the Ex- 
tract Hyoscyami afford considerable relief,, and in an adult case of 
acute hydrocephalus, where the patient was suffering the most excru- 
ciating torture, we prescribed four grains of the extract at bed-time, 
by which, several hours of calm repose were obtained, the first she 
had experienced for several days. 
* Celsus used henbane as a collyrium in inflammation of the eyes, 
t Dr. Doaald Munro mentions that a young lady labouring under a deep consumption, 
took every night, for some months, six grains of the Extract Hyosciami, which procured 
ber rest, without heating, or making her uneasy in the niglit, as (ipiates had always done. 
VOL. I. p 
