There is great rèafon to fuppofe, that it is 'alfoa native of fome parts of Europe ^and Alia.
Authors univerfally agree in attributing poifonous qualities to the Thorn-apple.— Bergius '
writer on the Materia Medica, relates, that the narcotic effluvia of the frefli plant affe&ed him fo’? 1”'
as he was defcribing it, that with the fmell, and chewing a bit of the plant, he became flightly jjjjjy
as if unaccuftomed to tobacco he had inhaled its fumes. .
A deco&ion of the herb, feed-veffels, or feeds, have been found to produce different effe&s in«
conllitutions, but the fymptoms raoft commonly attendant on taking this plant, are light-headednefs n
deep, infanity, madnefs, convulfions, palfy of the limbs, cold fweats, vehement third, and trembling?
Haller mentions a cafe in which taking of the feeds proved fatal; they had been adminiftered f0
of Nigella. -
The Chinefe are forbid by law from putting it into fermented liquors, with a view to intoxicate.
As the mofta&ive poifons, in proper dofes fldlfully adminiftered, frequently prove efficacious in re»
obftinate difeafes ; fo this, as well as feveral others, has been recommended for fuch purpofe. Dr Si
of Vienna, firft propofed it as a remedy for thofe very difeafes it is capable of exciting.
An extra6l made from the expreffed juice o f the leaves, is acrid and faline to the tafte, and
cryftals o f nitre on Handing. This preparation, given in doles of from one to five grains, twice or
a day, is faid to be a very powerful remedy in various convulfive and fpafmodic difeafes, epileply and n
The accounts of other pra&itioners have confirmed that o f the firft introducer, and it has been receive,
fome pharmacopeias. An ointment prepared from the leaves, has been found to give eafe in extern
fiammations and hemorrhages.
Emetics and purgatives give the fpeedieft relief in cafes where the plant has been inadvertently i
which it is fometimes neceffary frequently to repeat, as fome o f the feeds have been found to lodge;
fide raffle time in the ftomach.