A T R 
ATRAGENE, in botany: a genus of the 
polyandria order, and polygamia class of 
plants. The calyx has four leaves ; the pe- 
tals are twelve ; and. the seeds are caudated. 
There are live species, all natives of the 
East. 
ATE APII AXES, in botany, a genus of the 
cligynia order and hexandria class of plants; 
and in the natural method ranking under the 
12th order, holoracae. The caly x has tw o 
leaves}; the petals are two, and sinuated ; and 
there is but one seed. There are two species, 
both natives of warm countries. 
ATRESIA, the state of persons who w r ant 
some natural aperture. 
ATRETI, persons in whom the anus, 
vagina, urethra, &c. are imperforate, whether 
naturally or occasioned by disease. 
ATRIP LEX, orach, or arrach : a ge- 
nus of the moncecia order, and polygamia 
class ; and, in the natural method, ranking 
under the twelfth order, holoracax The 
calyx of the hermaphrodite flower is live- 
parted ; there is no corolla; the stamina are 
five, and the stylus is bifid ; the seed is one, 
and depressed. There are 14 species, of 
which the following are the most remark- 
able. 
1 . Atriplex halimus, the broad-leaved 
orach, was formerly cultivated in gardens as 
a shrub, by some formed into hedges, and 
constantly sheared to keep them thick ; but 
this is a purpose to which it is by no means 
adapted, as the shoots grow so numerous, 
that it is impossible to keep the hedge in any 
tolerable order ; and, what is worse, in se- 
vere winters, the plants are often destroyed. 
2. Atriplex hortensis, the garden orach, 
was formerly cultivated in gardens, and 
used as a substitute for spinach ; to w hich it 
is still preferred by some, though in general 
it is disliked by the English. There are three 
or four varieties of this plant, whose only 
difference is their colour ; one is a deep 
green, another a dark purple, and a third has 
green leaves and purple borders. They are 
all annual, and must be propagated by seeds. 
3. Atriplex petulacoides, the shrubby sea 
orach, grows wild by the sea-side, in 'many 
places of Britain. It may have a place in 
gardens among other low shrubs, where it 
will make a pretty diversity. This species 
requires little culture. It thrives in a poor 
gravelly soil, and may be propagated from 
cuttings. 
ATROPA, DEADLY NIGHT-SHADE: a 
genus of the monogynia order, and pentan- 
dria class of plants ; and in the natural me- 
thod, ranking under the' 25th order, luridse. 
The corolla. is caifipanulated ; the stamina 
are distant'; the berry is globular, and con- 
sists of two ceils. There are bight species; 
of which the following are the most remark- 
able. 
1. Atropa belladonna grows wild in many 
parts of Britain. It has a perennial root, 
which sends out strong herbaceous stalks of 
a purplish colour. These rise to the height 
of four or five feet, garnished with entire ob- 
long leaves, which towards autumn change 
to a purple. The flowers are large, and 
come out singly between the leaves, upon 
long foot stalks ; bell-shaped, and of a dusky 
colour on the outside, but purplish within. 
After the flower is past, the germen turns to 
a round berry, a little flatted at the top. 
ATR 
about the size or a cherrv. It is first green ; 
but when ripe, tu ns to a shining black, sits 
close upon the empalement, and contains a 
purple juice of a nauseous sweet taste, and 
full ot small kidney shaped seeds. This 
species, being remarkable for its poisonous 
qualities, is very seldom admitted into gar- 
dens. Mr. Ray gives an account of the 
symptoms that follow the taking of it inward- 
ly, by what happened to a mendicant friar, 
upon his drinking a glass of mallow wine, in 
which the herb was infused. In a short time, 
he became delirious, and soon after was seiz- 
ed with a .grinning laughter; then with se- 
veral irregular motions, and at last, with a 
real madness, and such a stupidity as those 
have who are sottishly drunk ; but after all, 
he was cured by a draught of vinegar. Bu- 
chanan also gives an account of the destruc- 
tion of the Danes under Sueno, when they in- 
vaded Scotland, by mixing a quantity of the 
! belladonna berries with the drink which the 
. Scots were, according to a treaty of truce, 
■ to supply them with. This so intoxicated 
| the Danes, that the Scots fell upon them in 
| their sleep, and killed the greatest part of 
| them, so that there were scarcely men enough 
left to carry off their king. There have also 
been many instances in Britain, of children 
being killed by eating the berries of the bel- 
ladonna. "\\ hen an accident of this kind is 
discovered in time, a glass of warm vinegar 
will prevent the bad effects. 
2. Atropa frutescens, is a native of Spain, 
and rises with a shrubby stem to the hTdit 
of six or eight feet, The flowers come out 
between the leaves, on short foot-stalks, 
shaped like those of the former, but much 
less; of a dirty yellowish colour, with a few 
brown stripes ; but these are never succeed- 
ed by berries in Britain. 
3. Atropa herbacea, is a native of Cam- 
peachy, and has an herbaceous stalk, rising 
about two feet. The flowers come out from 
between the leaves, on short foot-stalks; they 
are white, and shaped like those of the com- 
mon sort, but smaller. It flowers in July and 
August, but seldom ripens its fruit in Britain. 
4. Atropa mandragora, the mandrake, has 
been distinguished into the male and female, 
i lie male mandrake has a very large, lour, 
and thick root i it is largest at the top or 
head, and thence gradually grows smaller. 
Sometimes it is single and undivided to the 
bottom; but more frequently, it is dividec 
into two or more parts. When only parte: 
into two, it is pretended that it resemble! 
the body and thighs of a man. From thi: 
root arise a number of very long leaves 
broadest in the middle, and obtusely pointer 
at the end ; they are a foot or more ir 
length, and about live inches in breadth ; o 
a dusky and disagreeable green colour, anc 
of a very fetid smell. The female mandrake 
perfectly resembles the other in its growth : 
but the leaves are longer and narrower, and 
of a darker colour, as are also the seeds and 
roots. It grows naturally in Spain, Portu- 
gal, Italy, and the Levant. These three last 
species are propagated by seeds, and placed 
in stoves. Phis plant has been absurdly recom- 
mended as a cure for barrenness. Its fresh root 
is a violent purge, the dose being from ten to 
twenty grains in substance, and from half a 
dram to a dram in infusion. It is also narco- 
tic. It has been found of service in hysteric 
ATT 183 
I complaints, but must be used with great 
caution. '• 
ATROPHY, in medicine, a disease, 
wherein the body .or some of its parts do not 
receive the necessary nutriment, but' waste 
and decay incessantly. This is a disorder 
proceeding from the whole habit of the body, 
and n 4 from any distemper of the intes- 
tines : it is attended with no remarkable fe- 
ver, and is natural in old age, which is called 
atrophia senilis. See .Medicine. 
ATTACHMENT, in law, the taking or 
by virtue of a writ apprehending of a person, 
or precept. 
It is distinguished from an arrest in this 
respect ; that whereas an arrest lies only on 
the body of a man, an attachment is often on 
the goods only, and sometimes on the body 
and goods; there is this farther difference, 
that an arrest proceeds out of an inferior 
court by precept only, and an attachment 
out ot a higher court, either by precept or 
writ. 
An attachment by writ differs from dis- 
tress, insomuch that attachment does not 
extend to lands, as a distress does ; and a 
distress does not touch the body, as .an at- 
tachment does. 
In the common acceptation, an attachment 
is the apprehension of a man’s body, to 
bring him to answer the action of the plain- 
tiff. 1 
Attachment out of the chancery, is ob- 
tained upon an affidavit made, that the de- 
fendant v\as served with a subpoena, and made 
no appearance ; or it issues upon not per- 
forming some order or decree. Upon the 
return of this attachment by the sheriff, quod 
non est inventus in balliva sua, another at- 
tachment, with a proclamation, issues ; and 
if he appears not thereupon, a commission 
of rebellion. 
Attachment of the forest, is one of the 
three courts held in the forest. T he lowest 
court is called the court of attachment, or 
wood-mote court ; the mean, swan-mote ; 
and the highest, the justice in eyre's seat. 
T his attachment is by three means ; by- 
goods and chattels, by 'body, pledges,’ and 
mainprize, or the body only." This court is 
held every forty days throughout. the year, 
whence it is called forty-days roieft*. 
Attachment of privilege, is by virtue 
of a man’s privilege to call another if that 
court whereto he himself belongs, and'..iii' rc- 
spect 'A heieof he is privileged to answer some 
action. 
Foreign Attachment, is an attachment 
of money or goods, found within ft liberty or 
city, to satisfy some creditor within such 
liberty or city. 
By the custom of London, and several 
other places, a man can attach money or 
goods in the hands oi a stranger, to satisfy 
himself. J 
AT TACK, in the military art, is an effort 
made to force a post, break a body of troops, 
&c. 
Attack of a siege, is a furious assault 
made by the besiegers with trenches, covers 
mines, &c. in order to make themselves 
masters of a fortress, by storming one of its 
sides. If there are two or three attacks made 
at the same time, there should be a commu- 
nication betwixt them. 
Attacks, false, are never carried on with 
