ATROPA.

309

ATRIPLEX HORTENSIS, Linn.

Synonimes :—Arroche des jardins, Bonne-dame, Fr. ; Gartenmelde, Germ. ; Hof-melde, Dut.

Bruns. ; Gall. ; Wirtem. ; Brera ;Murray and Gmelin; Spielmann.

This plant was originally from Asia. Itis commonly cultivated in Europe. (Polg-gamia Montecia, Linn. ; Atriplieeœ, Juss. ;Fig. Blackw., Herb. t. 99 and 553.)

The herb and seeds are employed.

The herb (Herba Atriplicis sativte) con-sists of a grooved stem, with petiolatedleaves, smooth, pale, triangular and pointed.It has an herbaceous taste, and is in-odorous.

The seed is of an oval form, smooth, andsurrounded with a membranous border(aile) .

According to Mattioli, an infusion offrom one to two drams in warm water,provokes vomitting.

Gray attributes also an emetic propertyto the seeds of the Atriplex angustifolia.

Decandolle says that a vinous infusionof the Atriplex glauca, is a remedy forcolic.

All these vague assertions require to beverified.

ATROPA.

There are two species of this genus em-ployed in medicine :

I. Atropa Belladonna, Linn. — Belladonna,

Deadly Nightshade, Divale.

Synonimes :— Belladone, Morelle furieuse,Fr. ; Tollkraut, Wolfskirche, Waldnacht-schattan, Tollkirsche, Tollbeere Doll-kraut, Germ. ; Inubassaleb, Arab. ;Silec blaznowy, Bohem. ; Natskade,Dan. ; Belladonna, Span. ; Ital. ; andPort.; Sag-unggor, Hind. ; Doodkruid,Dut. ; Rubah turbue, Pers. ; Wilozawisnia, Tesak, Psinki, Pol. ; Wargbaer,Swed.

Lond. ; Dubl. ; Edinb. ; Amer. ; Ant. ;Amst. ; Batav. ; Bavar. ; Belg. ;Bruns.; Dan. ; Hisp. ; Gall.; Ferr. ;Fenn. ; Fultj. ; Genev. ; Hann. ;Hass. ; Lipf. ; Olden. ; Cast. Borus.;Borus. ; Ross. ; Sax. ; Suec. ; Wir-tem. ; Herbip. ; Wurceb.; Ainslie ;Bergius; Brugnatelli ; Coxe ; Gui-bourt; Murray and Gmelin ; Paris ;

PlDERIT; SriELMANN ; ZaRDA.

This plant is common in all warm andtemperate climates. (Pentandria monogynia,Linn. ; Solaneœ, Juss. ; Fig. Flor. Medic.

II. 61.)

The root and leaves are employed.

The root (Radix Belladonna; seu Solanilethalis seu furiosi) is thick, long, andbranching. It is of a red brown colourwithout and whitish within. It has a dis-agreeable and narcotic odour, and a nau-seous and bitterish taste.

The leaves are large, oval, entire, andof a sombre green colour. Their odouris feeble, and their taste rather acrid.

This plant contains, according toBrandes a peculiar alcaloid, Atropina,Atropia, Atropine, which is the source ofits activity.

It is narcotic, irritant, and poisonous.It has been extolled in jaundice, dropsy,hooping cough, and in spasmodic andother nervous affections. It recently hadthe groundless reputation of being a pre-ventive against scarlatina.

It exercises a particular action upon theiris, producing dilatation of the pupil.

Dose, of the powder, from one grain to ascruple, progressively.

powder of belladonna. (Hamb. ;Cast. Borus. ; Augustin ; Cadet deGassicourt)

R. Root of Belladonna, three grains.

White Sugar, seventeen grains.

Make a powder. (Cast. Borus.)

R. Root of Extract of Liquorice,

four scruples.Root of Belladonna, one scruple.

Make a powder. (Cadet de Gassi-court)

R. Root of Belladonna, three grains.

—-------- Liquorice, one scruple.

Sugar, one dram.

Make a powder. (Cadet de Gassi-court)