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SOCIETY MEETINGS. 
being next in importance in the order named. Chemically, 
botanically and medicinally atropa belladonna simulates— 
(1) Datura stramonium (thorn apple). 
(2) Hyoscyamus niger (henbane). 
(3) Buboisia hyoporoides. 
Medicinally, besides the above, it resembles— 
(4) Cannabis sativa (Indian hemp). 
(5) Erythroxylon coca (coca). 
Botanically, we may add— 
(6) Capsicum fastigiatum (cayenne pepper). 
(7) Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco). 
(8) Solanum dulcamara (bittersweet). 
The medicinal activity of atropa belladonna depends entirely 
upon an alkaloid which Brandes christened atropine, and a less 
important alkaloid named belladonnine. Atropine is an alka¬ 
line principle with the formula C 17 H 33 N 0 3 . The formula 
for belladonnine is C 17 H 23 N 0 4 , containing one atom of oxy¬ 
gen to each molecule more than atropine. 
It has been said that hyoscyamine, which has the same for¬ 
mula as atropine, but differs physically, is the true natural alka¬ 
loid of atropa belladonna, and that atropine is a conversion 
product. Chemically and medicinally atropine is identical with 
hyoscyamine, hyoscine, duboisine and daturine, differing only 
in their physical constitution. White and Wilcox state that hy¬ 
oscyamine and atropine occur together in atropa belladonna but 
are not readily separated. Eadenburg regards daturine as noth¬ 
ing more than a mixture of atropine and hyoscyamine, while 
Von Planta found and has since proven that daturine and atro¬ 
pine do not differ at all. This discrepancy is, however, of no 
great importance to the therapist, but we should know that— 
(1) Atropine is found in atropa belladonna and datura stra¬ 
monium. 
(2) Hyoscyamine is in hyoscyamus niger, duboisia myopo- 
roides, datura stramonium and probably in atropa belladonna. 
(3) Hyoscine in hyoscyamus niger only. 
(4) Daturine in datura stramonium only. 
(5) Duboisine in duboisia myoporoides only. 
(6) Belladonnine in atropa belladonna only. 
The useful preparations for veterinarians are— 
(1) Extractum belladonnse radicis fluidum. 
(2) Extractum belladonnse foliorum fluidum. 
(3) Atropinse sulphas. 
(4) Homatropinse hydrobromas. 
