HYOSCYAMUS NIGER-COMMON HENBANE. 
Class Y. PENTANDRIA.— Order I. MONOGYNIA. 
Natural Order, SOLANE.E. THE NIGHT-SHADE TRIBE. 
Common Henbane is an annual plant, growing naturally in many parts of our island, on waste grounds, and 
particularly on dry calcareous soils, on the sea coast of Essex and Kent ; flowering in July. The figure was 
drawn from a specimen found on Barnes Common, the only locality in the immediate vicinity of the metropolis 
with which we are now acquainted : we have seen it at Hampstead, but it has been for several years 
extirpated, the London herb-shops being chiefly supplied with it from Birch, near Colchester, and the Isle of 
Thanet, where it grows in great abundance. Mr. Greville, in his “Flora Edinensis,” on the authority of 
Mr. Neill, mentions it as occurring at Lochend, and on the south-east end of the debris of Salisbury Craigs. 
The root is fusiform, long, thick, wrinkled, brown externally, and white within. The stem rises to the 
height of two feet; is erect, branched, woody, cylindrical, somewhat viscid, and covered with a hairy down. 
The leaves surrounding the stalk at their base, stand irregularly, or in alternate order ; are large, clammy 
like the stalks, soft, woolly, pointed at the ends, very deeply sinuated at the edges, and of a glaucous green 
colour. The flowers are numerous, mostly sessile, of a straw-yellow colour, reticulated with dark purple 
veins ; and either emerge singly from the axillae of the leaves, or form long drooping, unilateral spikes, at 
the extremity of the stem and branches. A variety without these veins is mentioned by Sir J. E. Smith, 
as having been found by the Rev. J. Forby at Fincham, in Norfolk. The corolla is gamopetalous, funnel- 
shaped, and divided into five obtuse segments. The calyx is tubular, 5-cleft, and remains till the firuit is 
ripe. The filaments are inserted into the tube of the corolla, downy at the base, subulated, inclined in- 
wards, and supporting heart-shaped anthers of a deep purple colour. The germen is roundish ; style fili- 
form, the length of the stamens, with a blunt round stigma. The capsule is ovate, filling the body of the 
calyx ; bilocular, and opening transversely by a convex lid. It contains numerous, small, obovate, unequal 
brown seeds. The whole plant is covered with soft, unctuous hairs. 
The systematic name, Hyoscyamus, is of Greek origin, and is derived from 5?, 6o?, hog, and Kva^oi;, a 
bean, Hogs-Bean : because the exterior of the capsule has some resemblance to the shape of a bean, and 
the herb may be eaten by swine with impunity : whereas to most other animals it proves poisonous. 
iElian, however, relates that if this plant be devoured by pigs, its effects are extremely prejudicial, occa- 
sioning convulsions, and even death. The trivial name niger (black) is expressive of the colour of the 
seeds, and serves to distinguish the present species from another kind of European Henbane with white 
seeds, and which for that reason is termed Hyoscyamus albus. The English name Henbane, seems to be 
derived from the effects of the seeds on fowls ; Bana, being the Saxon word for murdering, slaying, &c.; 
thus the plant is the destroyer, or bane, of hens. Matthiolus, in his Commentaries on Dioscorides, asserts 
that he was a witness to the effects of the seeds on children, and that birds, especially of the gallinaceous 
tribe, and fishes, die soon after eating them. 
Qualities and Chemical Properties. — The whole plant has a strong fetid narcotic smell, and 
abounds in a clammy juice of a similar odour. The root has a sweetish taste, which has caused it to be 
sometimes mistaken for that of the parsnip. Exsiccation is said to destroy these sensible qualities. Its 
virtues are completely extracted by diluted alcohol. The watery infusion is of a very pale yellow colour, 
and insipid ; and has the narcotic odour of the plant. It is not altered by the acids ; the alkalies change 
the colour to a deep greenish yellow, which, on the addition of an acid, disappears, and a brownish floccu- 
lent precipitate is produced. Copious white precipitates are produced by the solution of subacetate of lead; 
and black ones by nitrate of silver. Sulphate of iron strikes with it a pale olive colour, and a dark precipi- 
tate is slowly formed. Nitrate of mercury also produces a large precipitate ; the watery and alcoholic 
solutions do not disturb each other. Brandes has succeeded in extracting from the seeds an alkaline prin- 
ciple, termed hyoscyamine, on which its active properties depend ; its vapour is exceedingly prejudicial. 
Poisonous Effects and Morbid Appearances. — Henbane, when administered in too large a dose, 
becomes a very dangerous poison. The effects produced by this plant, besides madness, are symptoms of 
intoxication, stupor, remarkable dilatation of the pupil, apoplexy, and convulsions ; terminating in death. 
On dissection, the internal surface of the stomach is often found inflamed, and covered with gangrenous 
spots ; the brain also exhibits appearances denoting great vascular excitement. 
“Wepfer relates, that several monks made a repast on the roots of wild endive, among which were mixed 
by mistake two roots of henbane. In a few hours some experienced vertigo; others a burning of the 
tongue, lips, and throat. Severe pains were also felt in the iliac region, and in all the joints. The intel- 
lectual faculties and organs of vision were perverted, and they gave themselves up to actions that were mad 
and ridiculous. They however recovered. In other cases a haggard countenance, dilatation of the pupils, 
