295 
cum is pungent, or even acrid ; some Physalis are subacid, and so wholesome 
as to be eaten wdth impunity ; and, finally, the Egg plant, Solanum esculen- 
tum, and all the Tomato tribe of Solanum, yield fruits which are common arti- 
cles of cookery. But it is stated that the poisonous species derive their pro- 
perties from the presence of a pulpy matter which surrounds the seeds ; and 
that the wholesome kinds are destitute of this pulp, the fruit consisting only 
of what botanists call the sarcocarp ; that is to say, the centre of the rind, in 
a more or less succulent state. It must also be remembered, that if the fruit 
of the Egg-plant is eatable, it only becomes so after undergoing a particular 
process, by which all its bitter acrid matter is removed, and that the Tomato 
is always exposed to heat before it is eaten. The fruit of Solanum Jacquini is 
considered by the native practitioners of India as expectorant. The juice of 
that of Solanum bahamense is used in the West Indies in cases of sore throat. 
Ainslie, 2. 91. A decoction of the root of S. mammosum is bitter, and rec- 
koned a valuable diuretic. Ibid. The roots of Physalis flexuosa are supposed 
by the Indian doctors to have deobstruent and diuretic qualities, and also to 
be alexipharmic. The leaves moistened with a little warm castor oil are a 
useful external application in cases of carbuncle. Ibid. 2. 15. The common 
Potato, in a state of putrefaction, is said to give out a most vivid light, suffi- 
cient to read by. This was particularly remarked by an officer on guard at 
Strasburgh, who thought the barracks were on fire, in consequence of the light 
thus emitted from a cellar full of potatos. Ed. P. J. 13, 376. It has been 
supposed that Potash may be advantageously obtained from the stalk of Po- 
tatos ; but it appears, from the experiments of Macculloch and Hay, that the 
quantity they contain is so small as not to be worth the manufacture. Ibid. 
2. 399. The deleterious principle of the Belladonna has been ascertained by 
Vauquelin to be a bitter nauseous matter, soluble in spirit of wine, forming 
an insoluble combination with tannin, and yielding ammonia when burnt. 
DC. Prodr. 225. The active principle of Solanum Dulcamara is an alkali, 
called Solania, which is in that plant combined with malic acid. Turner, 654. 
According to Mr. Houlton, the active principle of Hyoscyamus is only deve- 
loped in the second year of its growth ; a remark of much practical conse- 
quence. Journ. of the R. Inst. Oct. 1830, p. 196. A spinose species of So- 
lanum called Burabara is reputed in Demarara to be an antidote to the bite of 
the Rattlesnake. Ed. N. Ph. Journ. June 1830, p. 169. For excellent re- 
marks upon the geographical distribution and sensible properties of the order, 
especially with relation to Tobacco, see Royle's Illustrations, p. 279. 
GENERA. 
Juanulloa, R. et P. 
Ulloa, Pers. 
Lycium, L. 
Acnistus, Schott. 
Grabowskia, Schlecht. 
Capsicum, L. 
Solanum, L. 
Nycterium, Vent. 
Androcera, Nutt. 
Bassovia, Aubl. 
Aquartia, Jacq. 
Lycopersicon, Tourn. 
Dierbachia, Spreng. Withania, Pauquy. Nicotiana, L. 
Dunalia, H. B. K. Anisodus, Link. Petunia, Juss. 
Witheringia, L’Herit. Whitleya, Swt. Lehmannia, Spreng. 
Xuaresia, FI. Per. Nectouxia, H. B. K. Scopolina, Schult. 
Physalis, L. Jaborosa, Lam. Scopolia, Jacq. 
Herschellia, Bowd. Solandra, L. Hypscyamus, L. 
Duperreya, Gaudich. Sivartzia, Gxn&\. Stigmatococca, W. rel. 
Nicandra, Adans. Metternichia, Mik. 
Calydermos, R. et P. Datura, L. Lamarkia, R. et Sch. 
Atropa, L. Stramonium, Bernh. Dartus, Lour. 
Mandragora, Tourn. Dutra, Bernh, Dorsena, Thunb. 
Saracha, R. et P. Ceratocaulis, Bernh. Bellonia, L. 
Bellinia, Roem. et Brugmansia, R. et P. Cotylanthera, Bl. 
Sch. Nierembergia, R. et P. Triguera, Cav. 
Roussea, Sm. (55) 
