November 26 , 1870.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
431 
two grand general sections, subdivided into six varieties, 
and from these we select and glance rapidly at the his¬ 
tory of the most important species. 
Belladonna, Atropa Belladonna , whose generic name 
was taken by Linmeus from that of Parque, Atropus , owes 
its specific name of “ beautiful lady ” to the reputation 
which lotions compounded from the plant had in Italy 
for preserving beauty ; this solanum is tolerably common 
everywhere in woods and uncultivated spots around our 
dwellings; it hides in the angles of old walls and ruins, 
and it is thus too often found by children and ignorant 
persons, who, seduced by its aspect and sweet taste, be¬ 
come victims to their curiosity. The stems and the root 
are not less dangerous than the leaves and berries; 
amongst the symptoms of intoxication by belladonna is 
that which is termed carphologic, wdiich means a seeking 
for little objects; the affected person imagines he sees 
insects everywhere around him, small birds continually 
flying before him, and ho madly excites himself in their 
useless pursuit; amongst the numerous symptoms of 
poisoning by this plant are violent delirium, extreme 
agitation, frightful visions, dilatation of the pupils of the 
eye, etc. 
Thorn-apple, Batura Stramonium , known also under 
various names as stramonium, devil’s herb, or sorcerer’s 
herb ; the Arabs call it datora, the Persians tatula,—the 
word is manifestly derived from the radical “tat,” which 
means to prick or puncture, in allusion to the spinous 
envelope by which the fruit is protected. It is of all 
poisonous solanals the most energetic and the most re¬ 
markable ; it is the one which has caused the most serious 
accidents. A decoction of three capsules, made wuth 
milk, w r as taken in mistake by a man, and it occasioned 
in him a furious delirium, followed by general paralysis, 
which continued for several wrecks. 
The hyoscyamus, nicotiana, mandragora, Solanum Dul¬ 
camara :, etc., were also fully treated of, and their poison¬ 
ous natures and peculiarities illustrated by numerous 
interesting anecdotes by the lecturer, who proceeded at 
some length to describe the alkaloids—atropine, hyoscya- 
mine, daturine, solanine and nicotine, their therapeutic 
properties, physiological action, etc., and concluded by a 
short resume , in which he spoke of the general symptoms 
produced by the toxic action of the solanals, manifesting 
themselves with a constancy which supplies valuable 
indications for the treatment of the poisoned victims, and 
for the detection, and perhaps punishment, of the poisoner. 
The eminently irritating action of the solanals concen¬ 
trates itself in the brain, where it is rendered manifest 
by the contraction of the temples, the redness of the face, 
the intense headache, delirium and convulsions. Irrita¬ 
tion is then the first effect produced. Later on, a second 
effect is stupor; but it must be borne in mind that this 
stupor is only due to the irritation exalted to its highest 
pitch; it is only when the cerebral inflammation has, by 
congestion, distended the vessels and tissues of the brain 
so as to cause their compression against the bones of the 
skull, that dull and profound narcotism begins. This 
narcotism differs also from that produced by certain other 
somniferous plants, such as opium, for example. In the 
latter case, it is rather a languishing of the nervous sys¬ 
tem, or the retardation of the circulation of the blood 
which induces sleep ; in the former, on the contrary, it 
is because the blood is over-driven at first, and subse¬ 
quently reduced to impotence by the excess, that the 
vital activity falls into torpidity. 
At its conclusion a cordial vote of thanks was awarded 
by the members present to the lecturer. 
Messrs. Branson, Collinson, Davy, Horsfield and A. 
and C. Laycock, of Rotherham, were elected members, 
and Messrs. Blacker, Booth, Hollinrake, Johnson, 
Learoyd, Robson and Thomson, associates. 
The President announced the following donations to 
the library and museumThirty-seven bound volumes 
of the Lancet and seven volumes of Bell’s ‘ Surgery,’ from 
Mr. Nathaniel Booth, of Rotherham, and a cabinet col¬ 
lection of minerals and metals from Messrs. Cutloy and 
Preston, High Street. 
Mr. G. B. Cocking proposed and Mr. Huddlestoxe. 
seconded a vote of thanks to Mr. Booth, and Mr. Wilson 
proposed and Mr. Watts seconded a vote of thanks to 
Messrs. Cutley and Preston for their handsome donations, 
both of which were unanimously carried. This concluded, 
the business of the meeting. 
O 
DUNDEE CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 
The First General Meeting of Session 1870-71 was- 
held in Lamb’s Hotel on the 9th of November; Mr. 
Laird in the chair. 
The following were elected office-bearers for the ses¬ 
sion :— President: Mr. Wm. Laird, Ph.C. Vice-Presi¬ 
dent : Mr. David Russell. Treasurer: Mr. G. Jack. 
Secretary : Mr. Jas. Russell. Council: Mr. A. B. Ander¬ 
son, Mr. Wm. Doig, Mr. D. H. Ferries, Mr. C. Kerr, 
Ph.C. 
The report from the Committee having been read, it 
was resolved to rent a room, in order to facilitate the 
formation of classes for instruction of apprentices in che¬ 
mistry, materia medica and pharmacy. A Committee- 
was appointed. 
A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the pro¬ 
ceedings. 
LIVERPOOL CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION. 
The Second General Meeting of this Association /was 
held at the Royal Institution, on the 10th November; 
the President, Mr. John Abraham, in the chair. Them 
was a large attendance. 
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and 
confirmed. 
Letters were read from Messrs. Attfield, Stoddart r 
and Hills, acknowledging their election as honorary 
members. 
Mr. Joseph Hallawell, Mr. Charles C. Bell, and Mr. 
Thomas Williams were elected members. 
Mr. William Hallawell, Mr. Edward Olivant, and 
G. Harriman were elected associates. 
The President exhibited a bottle, labelled “Palatable 
Cod-Liver Oil,” which contained a mixture consisting; 
of nine parts of cod-liver oil and seven parts of syrup y 
flavoured with lemon and oil of aniseed or dill. Parti¬ 
cular care was taken to cover the whole of the bottle 
with the labels, and prominent instructions were given 
that “the bottle should be well shaken.” He observed 
that a circular accompanied each bottle, with testimo¬ 
nials from medical men and some who held the title of 
F.C.S., and he could not understand how such men 
could lend their names to a practice by which the public 
were led to believe that they were purchasing genuine 
cod-liver oil, whereas wRat they received was only about, 
half oil. He strongly condemned such a practice, and 
was unanimously supported by the members in an ani¬ 
mated discussion which followed. 
The Secretary exhibited a sample of chiretta, falsely 
packed with munjeet (Rubia cordifolia), presented to the 
museum by Messrs. Evans, Sons and Co., a description 
of which appears in the Pharmaceuttcal Journal, 3rd 
Series, No. 10, page 367. 
Mr. Richard Evans (Cleveland Square) called atten¬ 
tion to the correspondence which appeared lately in the 
Pharmaceutical Journal respecting poisonous feeding- 
bottles, and stated that six years ago, one of his children 
died, and upon application to the medical man who at¬ 
tended the child for a certificate of death, it was refused, 
the child exhibiting strong symptoms of having been 
poisoned, which symptoms he considered were pioduecd 
