LECTURES ON MATERIA MEDICA AND THERAPEUTICS,

729

might have been avoided, nullifies a. blance, and the anatomical structure, of these plants, serve, as may be said to be the policy of insurance. Upon the whole, it is essential to recol- case in some of the orders, as a guide to qualities and properties. lect, that an endeavour in our report to their assurance offices, to so.ften down certain cir- Notwithstanding, however, the very great cumstances, is not only totally unjustifiable ingenuity which has been exerted by two iu a moral sense ; but it may prove an ulti- of the most distinguished supporters of the mate injury to the party which it is meantpresent views of the systematic authors in that

.

medicinal

-’

this country, Professor LINDLEY and the late Professor BURNETT, in their respective works, illustrative of the natural affinities of plants, I cannot admit that there should LECTURES be associated together, in a natural order ON which purports to enable us to judge of medicinal by external structure, the MATERIA MEDICA AND poisonous powers henbane and the nutritious potato - the febrifuge solanum pseiulo quiraa and the THERAPEUTICS, diuretic solanum mammosum,—the deadly IN COURSE OF DELIVERY NOW nightshade and the esculent egg-plant,—the AT THE hot capsicum and the mild tomato,—together with the nauseous tobacco, the deleterious WINDMILL-STREET SCHOOL OF MEDICINE. datura stramonium, and the atropa mandra-

to serve.

,

’

BY

GEORGE G.

SIGMOND,

gora,—thus arranging together plants which M.D.

are

endowed with medicinal powers of

an

extraordinary nature, and others whose dietetic virtues render them of the deepest LECTURE X. value for the nourishment of the human NARCOTICS (continued):—The Nightshade None of the arguments adduced, Tribe. Opposite Qualities of Plants in species. and I must refer you to the authors to that Family, presenting Objections to the whom I have alluded, and to DE CANDOLLL, Adoption of the " Natural Order" in Bo- are, to my mind, satisfactory. It is stated tany. Henbane, the Plant in this Family that the potato and the egg-plant must be in its comes nearest to which Qualities submitted to culinary preparation before Opium. Its Name, Locality, Appearance, they can be divested of their narcotic pro. Period of its Perfection, Qualities, Hisbut the action of heat will not dissiperty, Tact Swine.—Anaof tory.—Æsculapian pate the upon which this power lysis of Hyoscyamus. The resulting Vege- depends inprinciples the plant (the hyoscyamus niger) table Alkaloid, Hyoscamine. Effects of of which I am about to ; for most meHyoscyamus on Animals. The poisonous. lancholy instances are speak record of the upon Effects of Henbane on Man. Effects of deaths of large numbers of persons in the Hyoscyamus, Belladonna, &c., on the Eye. same family, who have eaten of the root —Want of Information on Diseases of the after it has been boiled, frequent mistakes Eyes in this Country.—Employment of having occurred in which it has been taken Extract of Hyoscyamus in Operations for as food instead of the parsnip. I feel it Cataract. Effect of all the Narcotics on to make these observations because, right Vision.—Dangerous Operation of Hyoscy- from the name given to the order, all the amus Enemas.—Pathology of Poisoning plants which rank under it might be imafrom this Narcotic. gined to partake of the deadly nature of GENTLEMEN :-There is a great number some of the family from which its appellaof plants which, from the resemblance that tion has been derived; and also from the that a they bear to each other, and from the simi- remark which has been made, larity of their structure, have been grouped knowledge of the properties of one plant together by the botanists, and have been is a guide to the practitioner, which enables "

classed under "

an

order," to which the

name

him to substitute

some

other that is natu-

Solane:B," or the Nightshade tribe," rally allied to it, and physicians on foreign has been given by JUSSIEU, and others. stations may direct their inquiries not emMauy of these possess narcotic power in pirically, but upon fixed principles, into the the highest degree, but the student should qualities of medicinal plants which nature likewise be made aware that many which has provided in every region for the alleare thus associated are not only perfectly viation of the maladies peculiar to it. innocuous, but highly nutritive. This di- That this is a consummation most devoutly versity is so very apparent, that the prin.. to be wished I grant, and I yet hope that cipal admirers of that which is now received the time may come when systematic botany as approadhing nearest to-a natural system, shall be so perfect, that the medical man haveattempted, when speaking of this may, from the organization of a plant, judge order, to reconcile the seeming irtconsis- of its eflects; but, as LINNÆUS obsern-es in " tency, and to show that the external resem- his Diary, the key- to a complete nature

of

730

method it is not more easy to discover, per- duals, is apt to produce headach and stupur haps, than the quadrature of the oircle." whilst the leaves are fresh and newlyIn thus speaking I have no wish to depre- gathered. ciate those labours which all who love The flowers are of a straw-yellow colour, science must admire, nor would I for one and, for the most part, reticulated with instant oppose the views of those who have dark purple veins ; there is a variety found, most diligently and earnestly endeavoured however, without these veins. The stem to establish a system which has much of rises to a height of two or three feet; it is order, of beauty, and of accuracy, but which covered with soft white hairs, and is some. has defects which truth requires to have what viscid and adhesive. It flowers in the pointed out, for the promotion of the object month of July. According to the experi. ments of ORFILA, the energy of the plaut which we must all have in view. I wish to direct your attention at the pre- much depends upon the season of the year sent moment to those plants associated in in which it is gathered ; in the springitis this order, which possess any marked ano- almost inert, but when vegetation has ad. dyne or soporific qualities, and which have vanced it is much more active; and, been classed in the systems of materia according to Mr. HOULTON, it is only in the medica under the head of 11 Narcotics." second year of its growth that the active The one which comes nearest to opium in principles are fully developed. DIOSCORIDES its effects, which is occasionally employed has fully described the two varieties of instead of it, and which, judiciously admi- hyoscyamus, and discusses their powers, nistered, is capable of affording, in many He says that they produce sleep and mad. forms of disease; the most speedy and cer- ness, and are, therefore, condemned in tain relief, is hyoscyamus niger, or henbane. common use. He speaks of an extract The systematic name is derived from the made from the seed and the leaves, and also Greek, from two words signifying hog’s- mentions the uses to which these parts of bean, from the similarity of its capsule to the plant have been applied, and the power of the shape of the bean, and from its being they possess of alleviating pain, and also eaten by the hog; its adjective name is de- producing an alienation of mind, which he rived from the black colour of its seed, describes as similar to that of drunkenness, which distinguishes it from the albus, or which, he says, easily yields to remedies, white. Its English name springs from its There is nothing among the classics very in. deleterious effects upon fowls, the word teresting on it; all that has been written bane being added in the old Saxon to any has been collected by JOANNES BODÆUS, in living object that was killed on eating any his Commentary upon THEOPHRASTUS ; and substance. Thus we have « wolf’s-bane," at the end of the ninth book vou will finda " description of Hyoscyamus niger, luteus, et rat’s-bane," and similar expressions. This plant is indigenous, and grows in albus, with the remarks made hy PLINY and many parts of Great Britain, on waste by ÆLIAN, and an inquiry as to other names grounds and heaths, and it luxuriates prin- by which it was known among the ancients, cipally on dry calcareous soils. It is found A singular story is quoted from ÆLIAN, as on various spots in the vicinity of London; to the sagacity of swine, who are gravely thus, it is observable on Barnes Common, declared to be not unacquainted with medi on Putney Heath, and on Wimbledon Com- cine. They have the skill of discoveringn mon. Some of our botanists have found it remedy, near the water, for the bad effects upon Hampstead Heath,within a very short which are produced upon them by eating time, but it now appears to be entirely extir- this herb, which, it appears, causes para. pated from that neighbourhood. The Lon- lysis of the hinder limbs. Swine have, in don market is pretty abundantly supplied almost all countries, been considered to from the Isle of Thanet, and likewise from possess a species of Æsculapian tact, and the neighbourhood of Colchester. It has a the discovery of the hot mineral springs at very disagreeable odour. You will find Bath has been attributed to their superior very accurate descriptions of all the parts judgment. Our English herbalists describe of the plant in WOODVILLE’S Botany, and I hyoscyamus, and tell us of its poisonous likewise in the London and Edinburgh I effects. It is the root of the plant which been supposed to be SHAKESPEARE’S Dispensatories ; I shall, therefore, not oc- has " cupy your time in describing it minutely, insane root, which takes the reason pribut merely observe to you that the root is soner ;" hut he has ascribed to it, with a)[ fusiform, brown externally, and white the wondrous power of his imaginatiou, within; that it is long, thick, and wrinkled; most extraordinary virulence, and he selects and that it is necessary for you to be aware it as the means employed in so mysterious that it has often been mistaken and eaten for and dark a manner for the murder of HAMthe parsnip; that the lea-ves, which are em- J.F.T’S father :ployed medicinally, are large, soft, woolly, Withinjuice of cursed hebemcm, in a vial, the porches of mine ear, did pour pointed at the ends, somewhat clammy, and He, The leperous distilment, whose effect of a sea-green colour; they have a foetid, Holds such an enmity with the blood of mau, disagreeable smell, which, in some indivi- That, swift as quicksilver, it courses thro’

731 The nahural gates aud alleys of the body, And with a sudden rigor it doth posset And curd, like eager droppings, into milk, The titin and wholesome blood; so did it mine, And a most instant tetter barked about, Most lazar-like, with vile, and loathsome crust, All my smooth body."

I have

quoted

a

long passage, because

rapid changes which take place

when it into contact either with water or the free alkalies. The change which it then undergoes renders it soluble in water in every proportion, and even facilitates its

the

comes

it

decomposition. Hyoscyamine is much more easily ob-

illustrates the ideas that were entertained tained from the seeds than from any other at that period, and for the poetical descrip- part of the plant. They are acted upon by tion of the old English leprosy, which cor- alcohol, and to this solution lime is added, responds so well with the delineations of the result of which is a precipitation;this the disease by our early physicians, such is to be digested in diluted sulphuric acid. as Sir THEODORE MAYERNE and DANIEL The sulphate of hyoscyamine is thus ob. TURXER, and it was very generally ascribed tained, and held in solution, from which the to vegetable poisons. BLOM and others acid is to be taken by the addition of powhave told us that gangrenous blotches and dered carbonate of soda, and the hyoscyatetters have been caused by henbane. The mine is consequently precipitated in a free idea of pouring poison into the ear was state. It is quickly to be taken from the common, and we find, from a line of ÆMI- water and dried. The last step is to obtain LICS MACER, that this very herb was so em- it colourless, by dissolving it in water, filployed to destroy worms :tering it through animal charcoal, and then Auribus infusus vermes succus necat ejus." evaporating the solution. As the process is one of considerable nicety, and requires PARKINSON and GERARD both speak of much ] manipulation, the product is often the plant, and make use of the same des- very trifling, after much labour. The hyoscription of its effects. It is very amusing cyamine crystallizes in transparent needles, to find those herbalists, who themselves be- which inodorous, and little soluble in lieved in so many marvels, and were creduthe taste is somewhat similar to lous of every tale of wonder, chuckling at that of tobacco. The least quantity prothe folly of others who, suffering from tooth- duces a dilatation of the pupil, which lasts ach, were induced to try the fumes of hen- during a longtime. It forms with acids bane : "Diverse cunning knaves who would neutral salts, which are, like hyoscyamine, get money from them, causing such to hold very poisonous. Hyoscyamine is very their mouths over warm water, into which soluble in alcohol and in ether. Even the lutestrings are cunningly conveyed," for as vapour arising from it during the experithey were of catgut, on falling into the ment made by BRANDES, caused headach, fluid they became swollen, and apparently nausea, vomiting, and giddiness; and such fioated about, which these doctors persuad- was the effect of this and of atropine upon ed their patients were the worms which,him, that he was obliged to desist from fureven to this day, are supposed by the unin- ther inquiry. itiated to be the cause of toothach. ParThe poisonous powers of hyoscyamus are KINSON gives us an instance of a young not confined to man and to the gallinaceous woman who thus inhaled the fumes, and tribe ; dogs and fishes are destroyed by it, was for three days " so troubled in her and though horses,cows, and sheep will feed senses that she seemed drunk." upon it, yet they more generally refuse it. Hyoscyamus has undergone the most Scattered about a house it drives away minute analysis, and the result has mice. ORFILA relates fourteen experiments that a vegetable alkaloid, to which the ap- which he tried upon dogs. In the first, two pellation of " Hyoscyamine" has been drachms of the dried leaves given to one given, is recognized as the constituent prin- dog, and three ounces of the fresh root, ciple to which it owes its narcotic influ- gathered in April, produced little or no ence. In the year 1834, the Scciety of effect. In the second, a dog was made to Pharmacy of Paris offered a prize to the take eight ounces of the juice, obtained from writer of the best essay upon the principal three pounds of the fresh root, gathered in alkaloids present in the solanae; and in the April, and death, after some hours, with Annitles de Pharmacie, and also in the slight narcotic effects, occurred. The other Journal de Pharmacie, appeared a digest of experiments prove that the juice and decocall that had been done to arrive at the pro- tion of the root of the henbane, in full vegeper conclusions relating to hyoscyamine, tation, produce serious symptoms when atropine, daturine, and solanine. It is to introduced into the stomach, but that their illessrs. GEIGER and HESSE that we are in-effects are diminished if they be employed debted for the knowledge of the steps to bein the spring; that the juice of the leaves taken for obtaining hyoscyamine, and ofIis less active; that the watery extract obthe properties with which it is endowed.tained by boiling the plant, when it is not It is exceedingly difficult to extract thissufficiently developed, is much less active principle, on account of its extraordinarythan the watery extract obtained by evaposolubility in water, or rather on account offrating the juice of the fresh plant, in its full "

water; are ,

been,

732

vegetation; that., whether the juice and decoction are to be applied upon the cellular texture, injected into the veins, or taken into the stomach, they are fatal. To man the whole of the plant is very noxious, and some individuals who can take with impunity thelargest doses of opium, and. the other narcotics, are unable to bear the effects of either the black or the white hyoscyamus. Of this, that great and revered teacher of the medical art, HALLER, gives us an interesting example, in a case

had abundantevacuations, was speedily soon enjoyed his intellectual faculties the otherwas extravagmttydeu. t’ious, but strong purgative medicines soon restored to him his faculties, speech, sen. sibility, and motion. and

restored, and

The most marked symptoms which you will find in almost all cases are the grsat ’disturbance of the intellectual faculties, loss of speech, and affections of the eye. Wtp. PER, who relates the cases of several monks who ate some root of wild endive, amongst which occurred whilst he was a-- student at which were two roots of hyoscyamus, teih the University of Leyden, A young friend ’us that the monks were, rendered mad and who was with him attending the lectures of ’ridiculous, and. that the pupils of the eyes BOERHAAVE, tried a number of experiments were dilated. They were cured by-thedis. upon himself. He took with impunity tilled ivater of juniper berries, one- only aconite, dog’s-bane, and the berries of the remaining ill; and he who before saw ex-

atropha- belladonna, but was overpowered tremelywell, no longer distinguished objects by the seeds of henbane, and had nearly without the aid of spectacles. In the Philosophical Transactions is to be paid a severe penalty for his experiments. He suffered for some time under mental found a paper describing the cases seen by alienation, and became paralyzed; from Dr. POTOVILLAT, of Toucv, izz France:nine this state the skill of his learned preceptor persons were poisoned by the root, some fortunately recovered him. A case of a were speechless and convulsed, others howlstudent of physic is related by Dr. HAMtL- ed occasionally; protrusion of the eyes; con. TON, of Edinburgh, where the seed of the tortion of the mouth, and delirium, were white hyoscyamus produced insensibility present in all of them. Emetics restored and convulsions, with most alarmingpros- them ; at first they saw all objects double, trations of strength, although he had been which then appeared to them to be of a previously in the habit of obtaining sleep scarlet colour. by narcotics, and also by the seeds of hyos- GALEN observes that opium, mandrake, and hyoscyamus, when applied to, or near, cyamus. The peculiarities attendant upon this poi- the eye, produce dilatation of the pupil son are well described by CHOQUET, in the when they are employed to relieve any Journal de Leroux et Corvisart. Two young pain that may affect the eye. RAY lird men ate some young.shoots of the hyoscy- stated, too, that he had seen, on thoseoc. amus niger, which had been dressed in casions, a similar effect produced by sola-

olive oil, at about nine o’clock in the morn- num ; and BOERHAAVE relates a case ofa in a very short time it seemed to them lady of rank who had a small ulcer below as if the ground flew from under them ; the eye, for which, as it was suspected to their countenances became stupid, their be cancerous, a portion of the fresh leaf of tongues lost their power, and their limbs belladonna was applied. In the space of a were benumbed. M. CHOQUET was called single night she lost all power of motion of in, and found them at two in the afternoon the pupil of the eye, which remained dilated with their eyes haggard, the pupils very even whilst it was exposed to the most brilmuch dilated, their look fixed and dull, liant light. The leaf being removed, the their breathing Very difficult, the pulse mobility of the pupil was restored. The small and intermitting. Besides these very interesting fact that the approximation there were risus sardonicus, loss of voice,. of hyoscyamus, or of belladonna, to the eye, lock-jaw, loss of sense, aberration of mind, or its application to that organ, caused it and that U’nioii of delirium and coma which temporary dilatation of the pupil, remained, is called " typhomania." Theirextremities however, long unthought of, and was not were cold, the lower limbs paralyzed, the applied to any practical purpose, until a upper ones agitated by convulsive motions. gentleman, who was preparing the extra(t To all these alarming symptoms were super- of belladonna for REIMARUS, at Hamburgh, added carphologia, or those singular spas- by accident applied a piece of the herb to modic twitchings and motions which seem his eye, when the effect remained for three to have for their object the picking of weeks. The circumstances attendant liptin minute particles, or of flies, and to which it are narrated by Itntazatzr.rs, who describes thename of 11 floccitatio’," or -11 crocidis- the ideas to which they gave rise M lismus," has been given by some medical mind as to the possibility of inducing a authorities,., Emetics and glysters were species of paralysis during the extraction of first employed, then the administration of the crystalline lens; thus renderiag the optsome vinegar in large doses was adopted, ration easier, and preventing the mcouwith frictions over the whole of the body. ’vetiience which arises from the snddeu &N)’ One of the sttklerers, who freely vomited, sation of light upon the eye.

ing ;

733

exercising their innuenee.I have under the control of bellapatient, in this country. Diseases of the. eyes are no donna, speak of seeing every object as if much inquired into by the medical pro- coloured by the rainbow, and describin:; fession generally as to enable us to attain the different hues,-almost as they appear much knowledge on the subject. Operations onthe eye are performed by few individuals, through the prismatic spectrum. StiU, nkaseldom-giye us the result of their ex- however, it appears that these vegetae, so that we are principally indebted bles do not produce any effect upon the for the hints which we have toforeignersProfessor nerve, or upon its expansion at .the received. HiM!.Y, of Gottingen, optic bottom of the eye, the, iris alone being-the published,-atBremen, in the year 1801, some their and Professor in operation. uterMtmg facts, SCIIV1IT1T, seat of As an enema, hyoscyamus, in any quanVienna tried both hyoscyamus and belladonna externally and internally. Mr. WISHcannot he administered. GRUNWALD, ART, made us acquainted with their views, tity in the Ephemerides, tells us lie has seen - a he gaveto the profession M a paper which of the leaves, thus employed, prodecoction uponaMe which occurred to him of con- duce furious and his opinion and genM cataract, with some observations on trial of its delirium, are borne out by employment the means of artificially dilating the pupil the concurrent testimony of other indiviit the operations of exracting and depressduals. Dr. PtCARD tried it in a case of The opportunities for acquiring iufotnna- nitim,

tionupon the subject are comparatively few heard

are a

..

ing the cataract.

From these and other

diseased

and the

that

uterus, symptoms pregather the fact, that a drachm sented themselves were of a most’alarming ofextraet of hyoscyamus, which acts more ; almost all the signs which chamildly than belladonna, in an ounce of character racterize were present, together water, forms -a solution of which a few drops with thoseapoplexy which more immediately belong the eye, and kept there for are in&tilled iuto to the narcotic. HUFELAND recommended, a short time, the head being bent bacicone time, the fumes to be inhaled in iierwards, The eye is then observed to be pre- at vous and spasmodic complaints; but notcisely in the same state as in a case of comevery precaution was taken, plete amaurosis, the iris motionless, and so withstanding the vapours produced tremors, vertigo, and far drawn back that a ring is formed, scarcely diflicult respiration. BOERHAAVE was affecta line in breadth, with its inner edge turned a little backward, so that its anterior sur- ed with general trembling, and a sensation face is concave toward the central point. similar to drunkenness, in consequence of Xo pain, nor any redness, is consequent his preparing a plaster of which henbane was a principal ingredient. The effect proupon the influx of the fluid; the paralysis of the pupil comes on in an hour, and re- duced upon the mental faculties is essenmains for five or six hours. The contracting tially different from that which I have de. scribed to you as occurring from opium and power of the iris is again regained by the for whilst sopor, or deep rubbing on the eyebrows a small quantity its preparations, is the characteristic attendant- on this sleep, of cajeput oil. The hyoscyamus affords the we find, in the cases of hyoscyamus, means of ascertaining whether it be a cap- drug, to succeeds stupestilar, lenticular, fluid, or firm cataract, and mental alienation, which the of the stomach is, if texture faction ; is an auxiliary during the operation. This we may judge from the experiments of is a subject of deep interest, which the not at all affected, inflammation not limits to which I am necessarily confined ORFILA, itself. Opportunities of examipresenting allow will scarcely me to dwell upon. There nation after death have not been so frequent is, however, a paper of very considerable as to enable us to arrive at in-

smcces we

any positive value iri the Medical and Physical Journal, formation of the appearances which might for 1813, which you may consult with great be expected, nor have we any data upon advaatage to yourselves, as it elucidates which we can rely for the explanation of many points of importance. the which are perceptible upon phenomena Vision is sometimes very singularly afthe swallowing of any quantity of henbane, fected by all the plants which are called but which, for the most part, seem only to a narcotics," and rank in the class of which referred to an action upon thecerebral I am now speaking. Objects appear to be system, tinged with a great variety of colours, while ,

be .

belladonna, hyoscyamus,

or

datura stramo-