Part II.

Materia Medica.

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the delirium was succeeded by a profound sopor, accompaniedwith subsuitus tendinum ; the face and hands became pale andcold, and the pulse small, hard, and quick. Their recoverywas slow, and the blindness continued a considerable time, butat last went off'.

By distillation in the vapour bath, Geoffroy procured fromthe recent leaves a slightly acrid liquor, and the residuum bydestructive distillation yielded carbonate of ammonia.

Medical use __Yet this virulent poison, under proper ma-nagement, may become an excellent remedy. Besides its nar-cotic power, it promotes all the excretions; but its exhibitionrequires the greatest caution ; for it is apt, when continued forany length of time, even in small doses, to cause dryness andtention of the throat and neighbouring parts, vertigo, dimnessof sight, and even temporary blindness. When any of thesesymptoms occur, its use must be suspended for some time, andafterwards resumed in smaller doses.

Deadly nightshade has been exhibited,

1. In several febrile diseases; in obstinate intermittents;

and in the plague.

2. In inflammations : the gout.

3. In comatose diseases; in palsy, and loss of speech from

apoplexy.It In spasmodic diseases; in chorea, epilepsy, chincough,hydrophobia, melancholy, and mania.

5. In cachectic affections; in dropsies, and obstinate

jaundice.

6. In local diseases ; in amaurosis, ophthalmia, in scir-

rhus, and cancer.

Deadly nightshade is best exhibited in substance, beginningwith a very small dose of the powdered leaves or root, such asthe fourth or eighth part of a grain for children, and one grainfor adults, to be repeated daily, and gradually increased. Inhydrophobia, Munch gave the powdered root every secondmorning, to the extent of from one to five grains to children,and fourteen or fifteen grains to adults.

The watery infusion is also a powerful remedy. One scrupleof the dried leaves is infused in ten ounces of warm water,and strained after cooling. At first two ounces of this maybe given daily to adults, and gradually increased, until thetension of the throat shews that it would be imprudent tn gofarther.

The watery extract is not - -^cious preparation.

Externa!!', .tK» < ---aered leaves are applied as a narcoticto &• J "" n P a!n -' a »d to cancerous and ill-conditioned sores.

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