ATROPA BELLADONKA. 
133 
changing to red as it advances to maturity, and when ripe of a jet 
black, staining paper of a durable purple.* The Belladonna flowers 
in June and July, and the fruit ripens the latter end of Summer. 
Deadly nightshade has been long known for its baneful effects 
on men and animals. Both ancient and modern history furnishes 
many instances of the fatal consequences arising from the use of it, 
either by accident or design.f Notwithstanding its deleterious pro- 
perties, it has been very extensively employed in ancient and modern 
practice ; few, if any, vegetables possess properties so active and 
powerful as this. The active properties of the Belladonna reside in 
every part of the plant, although the leaves are generally preferred 
for medicinal purposes. The Belladonna acts upon the animal 
economy as a powerful narcotic, and in an over-dose causes intoxi- 
cation, madness, and death. 
Symptoms of Poisoning by the Belladonna. Dryness 
of the mouth and throat, great thirst, trembling of the tongue, 
difficulty of swallowing, fruitless efforts to vomit, swelling of the 
face, dilated pupils, slow and feeble pulse; vertigo, convulsions, 
coma, and death succeed. The body after death enters rapidly into 
the putrefactive state. 
Treatment in Case of Poisoning by the Belladonna. 
When any of the above symptoms arise, and it is known, or sus- 
pected, that the fruit or any part of the obnoxious plant has been 
taken, no time should be lost in immediately cleansing the stomach 
from the poison, by exhibiting from ten to twenty grains of the 
sulphate of zinc or copper, dissolved in warm water, and repeated at 
short intervals, until the stomach is completely evacuated ; then, and 
not till then, we should have recourse to potent draughts of vinegar, 
or any other vegetable acid and water, followed by powerful cathar- 
tics, and stimulating clysters to clear the bowels Should symptoms 
* It is said the Italian ladies use the jaice of these berries in their compositions for 
painting the cheeks; hence the derivation of the word Belladonna, which in the 
Italian language signifies beautiful woman. 
t Above one hundred and fiftj soldiers were poisoned by the berries of the Bella- 
donna, which they gathered at Pima, near Dresden. 
Journal de SediUet, Decembre, 1813, p. 3C4. 
In Buchanan's History of Scotland it is recorded, that the army of Sweno when he 
invaded that country, was destroyed by the Scots, who mixed the juice of the Bella- 
donna with wine, with which they supplied the Danes during a truce ; this so intoxi- 
oated the latter that the Scots fell upon them in their sleep, and destroyed the greater 
part of them. 
