[ 7 1 ] 
of old walls, and in moll of the unfrequented lanes : 
all'o in Woodllock-park in Oxforlhire, and Up-park 
in Hampshire. I have obferved it four or five years 
lince on the edge of Charley-forell : about Grace- 
Dieu, Leicefterfhire. It grows about North Luffen- 
ham in Rutland. 
Its Poisonous A L I T Y. 
There have been many fatal inllances of the nar- 
cotic and deleterious effects of the berries of this 
plant. They are upon record in aimed all botanical, 
and many medical authors. Children have unhappily 
been the principal fufferers this way, being tempted 
to eat by the enticing afpedt of the berries, or by 
millaking them for fome other fruit. The berries, 
however, are not the only part of the plant, which 
partake of this intoxicating and poifonous property : 
the whole plant is endued with it, and that in no 
fmali degree. 
If the Bella-donna is allowed to be the Xt^'^vos 
fxa.n-x.es of Diofcorides (9), this quality of it was 
not unknown to that writer. It was very foon known 
to the firlt writers in the medical and botanic way 
after the relloration of letters ; and they have not 
failed to inform us of it. 
Tragus and Fuchlius, who wrote about the middle 
of the lixteenth century, both relate inftances of the 
poifonous effects of thefe berries : the former, of a 
man, who went mad after having eaten of them ; 
(9) Mat. Med. lib. iv. cap. 69. 
7 
the 
