NAT. ORDER. SOLANACE^E. 153 
These, and all other poisonous plants, taken out of gardens, should 
be carefully buried or burned. 
Medical Properties and Uses. Every part of this plant appears 
to possess a narcotic power; but the seeds are the only parts of 
whose fatal effects we find instances recorded. Their soporiferous 
and intoxicating qualities are well known in some parts of Europe ; 
and, if we can credit the accounts of some authors, have been 
converted into purposes the most licentious and dishonorable. 
The internal use of Stramonium, as well as that of several other 
deleterious plants which we have had occasion to notice, was first 
ventured upon and recommended by Baron Stoerck, who gave an 
extract prepared of the expressed juice of this plant, with advan- 
tage, in cases of mania, epilepsy, and some other convulsive affec- 
tions. But as the success of this plant, even in the hands of the 
Baron, was not remarkable enough to claim any extraordinary » 
praise, his account of the efficacy of the Stramonium probably 
would not have procured it a place in the Materia Medica, had its 
character rested solely upon its representation. Odhelius, a cele- 
brated ancient physician, says " that of fourteen patients suffering 
under epileptic and convulsive affections, to whom he gave the 
Stramonium, in a hospital, eight were completely cured ; five were 
relieved; and only one received no benefit." Wedenberg also 
relates his experience, where he cured four girls, affected with 
convulsive complaints, by the use of this medicine. Other instances 
of the kind might be added. Greding, however, who made many 
experiments, with a view to ascertain the efficacy of this plant, 
was not so successful ; for out of the great number of cases in 
which he employed the Stramonium, it was only in one instance 
that it effected a cure ; and he objected to the cases stated by Dr. 
Odhelius, on the ground that the patients were dismissed before 
sufficient time was allowed to know whether the disease would 
return again or not. 
In this country we are not acquainted with any practitioners 
