properties. And M. Duval states, in his treatise on the Solanese, that he found a dog might take 180 
berries, or four ounces of the extract, without inconvenience ; and furthermore, he quotes an experiment on 
the human subject, where thirty-two drachms of extract were taken in two doses, also without injury. 
Upon which evidence Christison concludes, that “ if it has any power at all, it must possess too little to be 
entitled to the name of a poison/ 5 A conclusion which seems justified by the previous evidence, and one 
in which we should have concurred, had not counter experience, such as we shall immediately adduce, led 
us to question its propriety, and to doubt whether some undetected error may not attach to the observations 
of M. Duval. We therefore must warn our readers, that, given in an over dose, a decoction of the twigs 
of Solanum Dulcamara produces on the human subject the ordinary symptoms of narcotic poisons. The 
crimson berries, which with those of the white and black Briony, (Bryonia dioica, and Tamus communis ,) 
ornament our hedges at the approach of winter, are known to the peasantry by the name of ff poison 
berries/ 5 They have a disagreeable, bitter, nauseous taste ; and the subjoined extract of a letter from Mr. 
Wheeler, Surgeon, of Bayswater, attests in a striking manner their deleterious effects. 
“ On the 23rd of September, 1824, I was sent for, in great haste, to see two children belonging to Mr. 
Hebbut, of Kensington Gravel Pits. The elder was five years old, the younger three and a half. While 
playing in a field, close by their home, they were attracted by the sight of the beautiful red berries of the 
Dulcamara, and each ate a few. On their return home, about an hour after partaking of them, they were 
seized with the most excruciating pains in the whole course of the intestines ; attended with great heat in 
the throat and chest. They could not bear the slightest pressure on the abdomen ; and suffered much from 
nausea, thirst, and prostration of strength. It immediately occurred to my mind that these were the effects 
of some vegetable poison, and on questioning the mother, she ascertained where they had been, and that 
they had partaken of some berries. The pulsations at the wrist had now become exceedingly frequent, and 
the breathing painful and hurried. Hot water being at hand, I had them put into a bath, and administered 
a strong solution of sulphate of zinc every five minutes, which soon dislodged the contents of the stomach ; 
and I had the satisfaction to see several berries rejected, which were partially masticated, and appeared as 
though they were undergoing the process of digestion. After coming out of the bath, leeches were applied 
to the abdomen, and the bleeding was encouraged by poultices. I also ordered twelve grains of calomel for j 
the elder, and ten for the younger, which were followed by a mixture of castor oil, manna, and laudanum, in 
proper portions. Injections of beef broth were also frequently administered. In the evening, I found that 
the bowels had been freely acted on, and the evacuations were green, slimy, and extremely offensive. The 
tongue of each was red and dry. 
“ (Sept. 24th.) The tongues continued in the same condition. The bowels had been freely opened in 
the night. The breathing was but little improved. The bowels were not so much distended, nor was the 
pain produced by pressure, so great. The pulses were still hard and quick ; I therefore ordered the calomel, 
castor oil, and leeches to be repeated. 
“ (25th.) Pulses soft and reduced in velocity. A gentle moisture pervaded their skins ; the breathing 
was better, and their bowels much relieved ; the evacuations had been plentiful, and were not so green. 
Calomel and castor oil to be persisted in. 
“ (26th.) Are much better and free from pain, but extremely debilitated. Ordered them beef tea and 
mucilaginous drink. After this they gradually recovered, and on the 30th I took leave of them. 55 
“ In 1825, a child of Mr. Simmons, four years old, residing in Camden’s Place, swallowed some of the 
berries. He was a fine, stout, healthy boy. The symptoms were exactly the same as those already des- 
cribed, but attended with violent vomiting and purging, with contraction of the abdominal muscles. There 
was also a profuse secretion of saliva. I took five ounces of blood from the arm; gave twelve grains of calo- 
mel in a little sugar, and ordered the oily mixture with four drops of laudanum in each dose. Leeches were 
also applied to the abdomen. In the evening, I found that the bowels had been freely acted on, and the 
breathing was much improved. I continued my attendance for several days, and considered that his re- 
covery was probably protracted from my not having seen him till three hours after he had taken the berries. 
