another was sitting up in a corner like a monkey, grinning and making mows at them ; a fourth would 
fondly kiss and paw his companions, and sneer in their faces with a countenance more antic than any in a 
Dutch droll. In this frantic condition they were confined, lest, in their folly, they should destroy them- 
selves. A thousand simple tricks they played, and after eleven days returned to themselves again, not re- 
membering anything that had passed/’ 
Dr. Rush saw a child between three and four years old, who had swallowed some of the seeds. A 
violent fever, delirium, tremors in the limbs, and a general eruption on the skin were present, accompanied 
with considerable swelling, itching and inflammation. Repeated emetics and purgatives alleviated the dis- 
ease and brought away some of the seeds. Dilatation of the pupils still remained, but was -obviated by a 
continuance of the previous remedies, and she recovered. 
In the transactions of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, Dr. Bartram relates, that he was 
called to a child suddenly seized with idiotcy without fever. The pulse was natural, tongue clean, and no 
internal function disturbed, excepting that of the brain. The child appeared very happy ; talking, laughing, 
and in constant motion, yet so weak it could not stand or walk, without tottering. He exhibited an emetic, 
and the seeds of the thorn-apple were rejected, afer which the child recovered. 
Morbid Appearances. — The stomachs of animals poisoned with the watery extract of Stramonium, 
were found by Orfila, inflamed: and blood was extravasated between the mucous coat, and the one subja- 
cent to it. The lungs were of a deep red, and distended with black and fluid blood. Haller opened a 
woman who was poisoned by Stramonium: the cortical part of the brain was full of blood, and there were 
some coagula in the cavities of the cranium. 
Medical Properties and Uses. — Stramonium, like Belladonna, is so powerful in its effects, that 
it is not very generally employed in this country ; and like many other valuable agents, its real utility is 
depreciated, through the hyperbolical and laudatory strains that have been lavished on it by its ardent 
admirers. Baron Storck was the first to recommend it in mania and epilepsy; and like other medicines of 
the narcotic tribe, it has been found to succeed in some instances, and to fail in many others. Dr. Davy, 
however, has found it useful in the former, by its allaying irritation, and procuring quiet sleep. And Ser- 
gius remarks, “Saepius ipse,” (that is, Wedenberg,) “ vidit maniacos in integrum restitutos absque relapsu, 
ex propinato Extracto Daturee, per tempus quoddam continuato. Delirium post puerperium seepe curavi 
cum Datura, ubi alia fefellerunt.” 
Dr. Fisher, President of the Massachusetts Medical Society, divides the cases of epilepsy into three 
kinds ; those in which the fits return daily ; in which they revive at regular periods, as monthly, or give 
warning of their approach by previous symptoms ; lastly, those in which they do not observe any regular 
period, and do not givp any warning of their approach. In the first two kinds he asserts, that all the cases 
which came under his care, and which were not very few, had been cured by Stramonium. In those of the 
third kind, he found it of lio benefit whatever. Dr. Arch, of Maryland, confirms his statement, by observ- 
ing the same distinction in his practice. 
Taken in large doses, and the system kept for some time under its influence, it has afforded decided 
relief in Tic Doloureux; and in the most severe, and best marked case of spasmodic asthma we ever wit- 
nessed, the inspissated juice of Stramonium, brought to its proper consistence by the spontaneous action 
of the atmosphere, was given in doses of a quarter of a grain every four hours, and speedily produced relief. 
It is also said to have been successfully administered in large doses for rabies, by the practitioners of India. 
Dr. Marcet published the result of his experience with Stramonium, and states that many 
painful diseases were more relieved by it, when taken internally, than by any other narcotic 
substance ; and although it frequently excites nervous sensations that are disagreeable, and somewhat 
alarming to the patient, yet they did not always occur ; and its effects on the bowels are rather relaxing, 
than astringent. Sometimes it rendered the pulse slower. 
Dose. — Of the inspissated juice, from half a grain to a grain. 
Off. Prep. — Extract. Stramonii. L. 
Leigh Hunt in his usual sparkling style gives a charming list of references to writers on the month of May. 
“We cannot quote Brady; we cannot quote Brand; we cannot quote Aikin; nor Hone, nor Howitt, 
nor ourselves, (which is hard,) nor the venerable Stow r e, nor Foster, nor Patmore ; nor again, in poetry, 
may w r e repeat the quotation from Chaucer about May and the Daisy ; nor Milton’s Ode to May-morning ; 
nor Spencer’s joyous dance on the subject (in his Eclogues) ; nor his divine personification of the month in 
the Faerie Queene, Book VI.; nor Shakspeare’s passage in Henry the Eighth, about the impossibility of 
keeping people in their beds on May-morning; nor Moore’s “Young May-moon,” (“young” moon for 
“new,” so prettily turning Luna into a girl of fifteen) ; nor Thomson’s rich landscape in the Castle of Indo- 
lence “ atween June and May ;” nor Mr. Loviband’s “Tears of Old May Day ; nor Gay on the May-pole, 
nor Wordsworth’s bit about the month, (all whose bits are precious,) nor Dr. Darwin’s ode, (which luckily 
is not worth quoting,) nor twenty other poets, great and small ; nor Keats (one of the first) who has des- 
cribed a May-bush “with the bees about it.” And so with this w r e conclude our list of negations ; for even 
out of things negative, wc would show how a positive pleasure may be extracted. 
