[ 6 3 3 
make a cofmetic from the juice, or diftilled water, 
which they ufe to make their complexion fair and 
white. Others (2) fuppofe it derives its name from 
its intoxicating quality. With us it is generally 
known by the name of Deadly Nightfhade, or Dwale, 
tho’ this laft term is feldom ufed for it j and the old 
French word More lie, which Lobel applies to it, 
feems to be quite forgotten amongft us. 
Classical Distribution. 
X 
The Deadly Nightfhade was very foon difcovered 
by the revivers of botany after the reftoration of 
learning ; and, agreeable to the fafhion of thofe days, 
it was greatly debated among the commentators, 
whether it was kn©wn, and by what name, to the 
fathers of botany Theophraftus and Diofcorides. 
Several of the writers of that time, as Dodonasus, 
Guilandinus, Fuchfius, and Cordus, were of opinion, 
that it was the Mandragora morion of Theophraftus ; 
and their fentiments were efpoufed by his learned 
commentator Bodasus a Stapel (3), who moreover 
fuppofes it the plant, which Diofcorides defcribes, 
lib. iv. cap. 69. under the name of Xt e^X V0S 
On the other hand, Matthiolus (4) has taken great 
pains to prove, that it is not the Mandragora of 
Theophraftus ^ and both he and Ruellius (5) are 
(2) Bella- donna dicitur quod imaginationes non injucundas ef- 
ficiat, vel ut honefte fatis Plinius, quod lufum generet. Bod. Com- 
ment. in Theophr. p. 586. quod in fomnis pulchras oftendat vir- 
gines feminafque. Ibid. p. 1078. 
(3) Locis citatis. 
(4) Oper. omnia edit C. B. p. 756, 
(5) Ruell. in Diofcor. p. 536. 
inclined. 
