SOI, AN ACE IF.. 105 
Bays, — "The James-town weed, which resembles tho Thorny-apple of Peru (and 1 
take to be the plant so called), is supposed to be one of the greatest coolers in the 
world. This being an early plant, was gathered very young for a boiled salad, by 
some of the soldiers sent thither to quell the rebellion of Bacon, and some of them ate 
plentifully of it; the effect of which was a very pleasant comedy, for they turned 
natural fools upon it for several days. One would blow up a feather in the air, 
another would dart straws at it with much fury ; another stark naked was seen 
sitting up in a corner like a monkey, grinning and making mouths. A fourth would 
fondly kiss and paw his companions, and sneer in their faces with a countenance more 
antic than any in a Dutch doll. In this frantic condition they were confined, lest in 
their folly they should destroy themselves. A thousand simple tricks they played ; but 
after eleven days they returned to themselves again, not remembering anything that 
had passed." There can be no doubt, had the herb been fully grown, the end would 
have been far more tragical. A species of Thorn-apple nearly allied to this was 
probably used by the priests of Delphos to produce those paroxysms which they 
persuaded their devotees were manifestations of Divine power, and another was 
employed for a similar purpose by the Peruvians. 
That the peculiar effect of Stramonium is to produce, first, a kind of fatuity, and 
then symptoms of narcotism, there is much evidence to prove. Thus Dr. Barton 
mentions a case of a child suddenly seized with idiocy, the pulse, tongue, and all 
other appearances natural — excepting the bi-ain. The boy appeared to be happy, 
talking, laughing, and in constant motion, yet so weak he could not stand or walk 
without tottering. An emetic was administered, some seeds of the Thorn-apple were 
thrown up, and he quickly recovered. The seeds are decidedly the most powerful 
part of the plant. They contain an alkaloid, known to the chemists as Daturia, 
which may be obtained in crystals from the alcoholic infusion. One-eighth of a grain 
of this substance killed a bird in three hours. These seeds are used in medicine as 
narcotic and anodyne. Beneficial effects are said to follow their administration in the 
form of an extract in mania and epilepsy. It has been used both inwardly and 
outwardly, in allaying the pain of chronic rheumatism and neuralgia. It is, however, 
far too dangerous a remedy to be employed by non-medical persons. The chief appli- 
cation of Stramonium in recent times has been the method introduced from India of 
inhaling its smoke as a remedy for asthma, and we now frequently sec in the chemists' 
shops, " Stramonium cigars," which, however, must be smoked by sufferers with great 
caution. Dr. Christison remarks, that this method of using Stramonium must have 
been known at an early period in Europe ; for in 1542 Fuchs mentions that its 
vernacular name in Germany was Ranch Apfslkraut (Smoke Apple-wort). Its 
property of dilating the pupil of the eye has caused its occasional use by oculists ; but 
it is much inferior to belladonna. 
GENUS r-HYOSCYAMUS, Linn. 
Calyx bellshaped, constricted above the middle, 5-toothed at the 
apex, persistent, slightly accrescent bnt unchanged in form when 
in fruit. Corolla slightly irregular, funnelshaped ; tube moderately 
long ; limb somewhat spreading, 5-partite ; segments blunt, slightly 
unequal, imbricated in eestivation. Stamens 5 3 inserted in 
VOL. VI. p 
