r#* *$r*W >w ~^r?** '- \^Km ^{f^St 'j[*^^ ^MSiHrv1 '*-*X^K Xv k V -o <'1*1.'. ♦ *^w*^'< til .JM*# — ■--- -^**-' *- *|£>o----f N°- &/ *—3^ >ftx.xXXX><3 >----«GggS ^xxxx'xxxxrr ., ; .. BELONGING TO tji m \ x*x AiX IN THE X|X xlx PENNSYLVANIA HOSPITAL. ||x Xt* XtX •ff/SlJ«>tXXXXX>fXXXXXxXx5n PRINTED BY ZACHARIAH POOLSON, JUNIOR ffi The Medical Library ♦ Surgeon General's Office 11 wn *-■*> A DISSERTATION ON THE PROPERTIES AND EFFECTS OF THE DATURA STRAMONIUM, OR COMMON THORN-APPLE; AND ON ITS USE IN MEDICINE. By SAMUEL COOPER, Member ef the Cbetkical and Medical Societies of Philadelphia. , *'^ ■' ■■ " ; ' ' «■''------------------------------ ^ LlJU...... --,. ; • " /•-'• /.// / <* "'■" X - PHILADELPHIA: printed by SAMUEL H. SMITH. M, DCC.XCVII, AN INAUGURAL DISSERTATION ON STRAMONIUM SUBMITTED TO THE EXAMINATION OF The Rev. JOHN EWING, S. S. T. P. Provoft, THE TRUSTEES AND MEDICAL FACULTY OF TH E UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, On the 12th of May, 1797, For tht Degree of Doclor of Medicine. TOTHE / MANAGERS AND PHYSICIANS OF THE PENNSYLVANIA HOSPITAL, WHOSE BENEVOLENT LABORS GREATLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE BENEFIT OF MANKIND, AND TO THE PROMOTION OF MEDICAL SCIENCE; THIS DISSERTATION IS INSCRIBED, AS A MARK, OF GRATITUDE, AND RESPECT, BY THEIR OBLIGED FRIEND, AND PUPIL, The AUTHOR. PREFACE. iMBty^jfflfMm 1N the following pages we have ventu- red to bring into view fome experiments and obfervations, relative to the proper tis and ef- fects of the Datura Stramonium, or common Thorn-apple. It was thought that, as this ac- tive plant has not received much attention from the medical experimenter, it was wot thy of further investigation. It furnifhes a fubjecl: extenfive, and important. He, who would do juftice to fuch a fubjecl;, mould poffefs talents, leifure, and induftry. To a deficiency in the two former points many of the imper- fections of the prefent work may be juftly ( vi ) afcribed. Inftead of fome months, or rather weeks, could a few years have be n devoted to its execution, it might have been lefs imper- fect, and confequently lefs unworthy of the acceptance of the reader. With great diffi- dence it is fubmitted to hisinfpeclion. A DISSERTATION, &c. m- JL HE vegetable world is highly tributary to the exiftence and liappinefs of man. From hence he derives many articles of food, and many remedies for difeafe; and it is probable that his happinefs will in- creafe in proportion, as ingenuity or accident (hall give rife to uf ^ul difcoveries in this department of nature. Many unknown plants doubtlefs inhabit our globe ; fome of which may poffefs valuable alimentary properiies ; and others again may be imbued with en- ergies capable of obviating fome of theprefent incurable difeafes, which invade the animal fyftem. Thefe plants and their ufes, will, fooner or later, be difovered. In the mean while, any effort to extend our know- ledge of fuch, as are imperfe&ly known, may be at- tended with advantage. Influenced by this belief, we have been led to devote fome time to the confideration of the Datura Stramonium. We Ihall premife fome ( 8 ) remarks on its natural hiftory, and afterwards attempt an experimental inveftigation of its component parts, of its effecls on the animal body, and of its ufe in medi- cine. The Genus Datura is arranged by the celebrated Linnaeus, in the clafs Pentandria, and order Monogynia; and is thus defcribed, "Datura. Cor. funnel-form. Cal. tubular; angled, deciduous. Caps. 4—valved." * This genus includes feven fpecies; that of which we are about to treat, is the fecond, with " Pericarps thorny erecl egged, leaves egged fmooth.*" Inrefpecl to the leaves, this defcription is erroneous, if we may be guided bv obfervation, and by the authority of Dr. Hailer and Dr. Woodville. The leaves are not egged; but the plant when it is very young, has for the moft part egged, or ovate leaves; and Linnaeus might have drawn its fpecific character from an imperfecl fpeci- men. According to Dr. Hailer they are angled ; and according to Dr. Woodville, they are pointed at the extremity, indented, and formed into feveral obtufe angles. ^ his fpecies of thorn-apple very generally grows throughout the United States. Whether it be a na- tive of thefe ftates, or an exotic, is a queftion, which has not been yet determined by botanifls. It is an annual plant. It grows upon the borders of roads, around houfes, in gardens, and upon vacant lots. It delights in a nitrous foil, and feems to love the abodes of man. It not only flourifhes in the neighbourhood of Philadelphia, but by the fides of fome of the ftreets, in fome yards, and in great abundance, particularly in the vacant Northern grounds of the city. Its general * Syftem of Vegetables of Linaaeus tranflated by a Botanical Society at Lichfield. London, 1783. ( 9 ) height is from two to four, but it fometimes reaches to the height of ten feet. It fprings from the earth about the latter end of May, from which time it con- tinues to fpring, till vegetation be checked by the cold of autumn. Its flowers are produced in the two laft fummer and the firft autumnal months. They appear in fucceflion,and may be feen on the extreme branches when the lower ones poflefs thorny feed-veflels. Thefe obfervations, relative to the firft appearance, duration, and flowering of the plant, will chiefly apply to the neighborhood of Philadelphia. In its progrefs to maturity the face of the Stramo- nium considerably alters. The ftalk at firft acquires two oppofite lanced, and afterwards feveral ovate leaves, arranged in an alternate order. After fome time thefe oppofite and alternate leaves decay; the ftalk divides into branches; thefe branches divide into others, and leaves of a different form are produced. The leaves are now irregularly {et, and are angled and indented.* The flowers are moft frequently white; they are placed on fhort peduncles at the junction of the branches and leaves. Some plants poffefs purple flowers, and pur- pie ftalks, while others again have thefe parts tinged of a blue color. Hence it appears, that three varie- ties belong to the Datura Stramonium. The ftamina are generally five, at times fix, and at other times, one of them is cleft fupporting two anthers. The thorny capfules are replete with kidney-form feeds, of a dark brown color. A capfule of the common fize contain- • Dr. Woodville, in his elegant work entitled Medical Botany, makei the leaves of this plant alternate. This I think, u an inaccuracy. B ( lo ) ed feven hundred and fifty feeds. The root is white and fibrous. Many catepillars feed upon the leaves, and efpeci- ally one, which is a fpecies of fphinx, and is that which feeds upon the tobacco. A fmall beetle ears the leaves into numerous perforations. The leaves are feme- times infefted by the puceron or loufe of plants. Pro- feffor Barton has been well informed, that the goat eats both the leaf, and the feed veflel. A fimilar oc- currence fell beneath my own obfervation about the commencement of laft fall. A lemale goat daily de- voured large quantities of the leaves, and at the fame time gave milk, which was ufed by a man, and his wife, and their two children. At this time three of the fam- ily were difeafed; the man and his wife labored under intermittents, and one of the children under an affec- tion of the bowels. This milk was probably imbued with noxious properties; and if it did notcaufe, might have increafed, or difpofed to, their complaints. The odor of the leaves does not appear to be offen- five to the bat, or the moufe, as I found by expofing them to it in veffels which had proper air-holes. Up- on bringing a large quantity of the boughs of the plant into a room, a dog feemingly in health, ran to them, laid down among them, and flept without appearing to experience any inconvenience from their exhala- tion. Notwithftanding what has been faid, the exha- lation cf this plant may be offenfive to fome infecls, and to fome animals. It is frequently offenfive to man, as wilt appear in the fubfequent pages. ( » ) EXPERIMENTS ON STRAMONIUM. EXPERIMENT I. A pound and an half of the pounded leaves of ftramo- mum* and a gallon of water were put into an alembic, to which a conftant fire was applied. After fome time a colorlefs fluid collecled in the receiver; this was tail- ed and feeaied (lightly to poffefs the properties of the plant. Nothing refembling effential oil appeared on the furface of the diftilled fluid. Upon continuing the diftillation an empyreumatic liquid was obtained. EXPERIMENT II. An ounce of the colorlefc fluid juft mentioned was taken by a healthy perfon; and its effecls were very inconliderable ; it feemed only to induce a flight nau- fea This experiment was repeated with a fimilar refult. EXPERIMENT III. By fubjecling the dried leaves in a ftone retort to a violent heat, a dark oil of a diiagreabie odor was obtained. This oil poflibly arofe fro ■.;, a decompofi- tion of the refin of the leaves; the reiin J.oiing its oxi- gene; and hence becoming an oil. { 12 ) EXPERIMENT IV. A quart of the expreffed juice of the leaves was fuf- fered to ftand many days in an atmofphere moderately warm. A degree of fermentation feemed to take place in the liquid, and a white oleaginous matter gradually arofe to it's furface. My ingenious friend Dr. Wood- houfe informed me, that, he once procured a confi- derable quantity of a fubftance which refembled oil, by infufing this vegetable in water for fome weeks. EXPERIMENT V. A large handful of the leaves were burnt to afhes, upon which water was poured, and fuffered to ftand a confiderable time. The water was then filtered and evaporated. By this procefs a fmall quantity of pot- afti was procured. EXPERIMENT VI. Some fpirit of wine, and half an ounce of the pow- dered leaves of StTamonium, were rubbed together in a marble mortar. The fpirit affumed a deep green color. After decanting this portion of Ipirit, other portions were added, as long as they appeared by their color ( »3 ) to extracl any thing from the powder. The clear de- canted liquid was evaporated, and afforded twelve grains of refin. I am induced to believe that four drachms of the above fubftance contain a larger por- tion than twelve grains. Does not a portion of the refin rife into the air with the alcohol? This I thiiik was the cafe in one of my experiments. Highly rec- tified fpirit of wine was poured, quantity after quantity, on an ounce of the powdered leaves; was frequently fhaken with the material, and afterwards decanted. The fpirit ufed in this way amounted to eight pounds. The whole of the decanted liquid, upon evaporation, only yielded eight grains of refin. EXPERIMENT VII. The four drachms, which had been fubjecledto the aclicn of alcohol, were triturated with repeated quan- tities of rain water, till the water ceafed to be colored. Upon filtering and evaporating thefe quantities of colored water, one fcruple of gummy matter was ob- tained, among which many very minute faline cryftals were vifible. The matter which the fpirit and water did not diffolve was infipid, grey, and earthy. Being dried, it was found to weigh two drachms, eighteen grains. ( 14 ) .EXPERIMENT VIII A considerable quantity of the dried leaves were infufed in fnow wa*er for two or three days. The infufion was expofed to an intenfe cold; the whole of it became a congealed mafs, except a fmall quantity, which was dark, and which remained beneath the ice. This dark fluid cryftalized upon removing it into an- other veffel. The cryftals refembled nitre, in their form, and in their tafte. The powdered leaves thrown upon live coals fparkle like fmall particles of nitre. EXPERIMENT IX. , The watery infufion of the leaves is yellow, bitter, and fomewhat naufeous. The fpirituous linclure of them is green, and aftnngeiu ; and upon adding fjme of it to a folution of fuiphate of iron, a brown thick fluid was formed. EXPERIMENT X. I put a quantity of the pounded feed with fome wa- ter into a veffei, which was expoled to a boiling heat. Globules of oil rofe to the furtace of the flu.i, which refembled fweet-oil in color, and in tafte. When ( 15 ) ihe pounded feeds are wrapped in paper they ftain it like oil; when thev are thrown into the fire they flame; and when they are fet in a difh, and expofed to heat, an exhalation arifes fimilar to that, which emanates from roafting coffee. EXPERIMENT XI. Hal? an ounce of the diced root was infufed in a pint of water for three days. About four ounces of the ftrained infufion were fwallowed. They produced fome fever, which was accompanied by a flight intox- ication, and head ache. This infufion is not difa- greeable to the tafte. EXPERIMENT XII. I placed a grain of the powdered leaves upon my tongue, and fuffered it gradually to mix with the faliva of my mouth A highly bitter and naufeous tafte and an increafed flow of faliva enfued. The difagree- able tafte remained many minutes after ejecting the material from my mouth. EXPERIMENT XIII. About two grains of the powder was fnuffed up the nofe; fome irritation was immediately felt in the mem- brane; fneezing occurred, and the mucus of the part was increafed in quantity- ( 16 ) EXPERIMENT XIV. Two fcruples of the powder were put into a phial, and an ounce and an half of warm water were poured upon them. The phial was frequently fhaken; and the contents of it in about half an hour were filtered. The filtrated liquor poffefled a yellowiih color, and a tafte more bitter than naufeous. Of this an ounce was inje&ed into the urethra. A flight heat and pain were the confequence. EXPERIMENT XV. A drop of the above filtrated liquor was let fall in- to the left eye. An uneafy fenfation of the part was immediately experienced. In five minutes the un- eafinefs feemed to be fomewhat increafed; in ten it was lefs; in fifteen a flight pain occurred in the other eye. In half an hour the pupil of the eye on which the fluid was fuffeied to fail began to enlarge. The pupil previoufly to its dilation appeared to be more contracted than that of the right eye. It was largeft about twelve hours after the experiment; at which time it was viewed in a confiderable light, and feemed thrice as large as the other. It continued dilated du- ring two days. In a ftrong light, objecls were feen .more diftinclly with the right eye, but in a weak light, or in the dark, with the dilated one. This experi- ment was made upon myfelf. It was repeated on a boy ( 17 ) about fourteen years old; in this cafe the liquid ufed, was the exprefled juice of tl*e leaves diluted with wa- ter. He fa' in a pretty ftrong light, and in about ten minutes after the application, he was of opinion that the virion of the affected eye was increafed >n energy. The other phenomena were fimilar to the ie related in the former experiment. In this inilance the dic- tation of the pupil continued three days. But my friends Dr. Bache and Thomas Horsfieid to whole eyes the infufion was applied, experienced afterwards no increafe of fight in the dark. 'I o experience this effect their pupils perhaps were not iuit.ciently di- lated. Dr. Rush, when treating of vifion, informs his clafs, that a certain philofopher, who lecUmi in Phi- ladelphia, was accuftomed to give the follow ing advice to his pupils. For fome time previoufly to app' ar;ng in the company of ladies you fhould view a p^a- of black cloath, which will renaer your eyes foft and lan- guilhing. If any of his audience had been difpoled to follow this ad'ice, they might have accomplished the defired end, with greater eafe, and effect, by let- ting fall into the eye a drop of the infufion of itramo- nium. EXPERIMENT XVI. A drop of the exprefled juice was let fall into the eye of a cat. An itching or pain cf the part appeared to be induced; the animal making great exertions with her feet as if (he wiflied to rub off the material. The C ( i« ) whole of the colored part of the eye feemed in a fhort time to be converted into pupil. Inflammation and a puriform dilcharge, of many days continuance, fuc- ceeded. EXPERIMENT XVII. I scraped away a portion of the cuticle from my wrift. Upon applying the frelh leaves pounded into a foft poultice to the part; it fwelled, and became fo painful, that after fome time, I was induced to change the application for that of a mild cerate. EXPERIMENT XVIII. A quantity of the pounded leaves was bound on the inner furface, and about midway of the thigh, and fuffered to remain unremoved during twelve hours. No other effect than a moifture on the (kin was appa- rently produced by the application. EXPERIMENT XIX. About four o'clock in the afternoon fix ounces of a warm decoction of the leaves were rubbed on each arm of a boy till the whole difappeared. In a very fhort time he was affected with febrile fymptoms, his head ( 19 ) becoming light, his (kin warm and fweaty, and his mouth dry. He was troubled with a flight head-ache during the whole of the next day. EXPERIMENT XX. A rat, fo young that it was nearly devoid of hair, was treated in the following manner. A decoction of the leaves, the fame in ftrength as in the former ex- periment, was liberally applied to the furface of its body. It was quickly roufed out of its quiet ftate, and made violent, but irregular, exertions to move away. Thefe exertions feemed to be of the convul- five kind. They would fuddenly ceafe, and the ani- mal would fall on its fide, and lie as if afleep; and their return would be equally fudden. This alternate activity and torpor of the animal frequently occurred, but gradually diminifhed, and entirely difappeared in a few hours. To another equally young, water fimilar in quantity and temperature to the decoction, was in like manner applied. The water excited it into confiderable exertion, but its motions were more natural than thofe of the former. EXPERIMENT XXI. At night I ftrewed frefh branches of the plant on my bed, on each fide of the pillow, and about the room. I afterwards went to bed, flept, and awoke in the morning with a flight fever and head-ache. C 20 ) EXPERIMENT XXII. To I. L. twf.n'y-fix years old, healthy, his pulfe beating feventv tw^ ftrokes in a minute, I gave one grain of the powdered leaves of ftramonium diffufed in about an ounce of temperate water. InI 2| 5 10115120;25|qo|05 40'45 55'65! Minutes. The pulfe beat 7a 7 ^'7274 78 7°- 7* "1T 71 ?° 6i> S(> Strokes- In about ten minutes his pulfe feemed to be fomewhat increafed in force. In twenty minutes he became dull ; and in thirty began to d^ze. In thirty-four minutes the pulfe was full and unequal, and in forty- feven fon:ewhat tenfe, and lefs unequal. He con- tinued to doze till about the fifty-fifth minute; at this time fome tea was handed him, which he drank, and which raifed his pulfe :o eighty-nine quick ftrokes. This experiment was made in the evening; and next day he informed me, thar he had experienced during the night much heat in his 1 ands and feet. EXPERIMENT XXIII. To P. M. healthv, thirty-two years old, his pulfe fcft and full, and beating feventy-four ftrokes in a mi- nute, I gave two grains of ihe leaves d.ffufed in water. In S'tcVj -0|Z5^'Q| '5 4°45 50:P) ■■- •-'.•, Minutes. Pulfe bcatitfo 76 7b 78 79 82|8^,l8a 8479 80 **-*'/ x,Strokes. ( « ) When ten m'r.utn hn.d elapfed he found his head lbmevvhat giddy : in twenty he was drowfy, and his pulfe was quick. In thirty minutes his hands fweated: in forty his tongue acquired fome whitenefs, and the eye a pupil fomewhat more dilated. In forty-five mi- nutes his puife beat fuller and quicker ftrokes; bis hands were warm, and covered withfweat; his cheeks redder, and his drowfinefs had increafed. In fifty minutes he complained of pain in his head; and his whpie body was unufualiy warm:—in fixty his eyes became m.fty ; his ftcmach lick. Defirous of fleeping he la;d his body in a horizontal pofition. In fixty-five minutes his pulfe evidenced great tenfion and was ftill fuller. I was now obliged to leave him, but re- turned to him, about the eightieth minute, and found him afleep; his eye-lids were not completely clofed; his face was red, and moift; he refembled a perfon laboring under the effects of too much fpirituous po- tation. EXPERIMENT XXIV. M. F. aged forty, healthy, but having an ulcer on the leg, and his pulfe beating feventy-eight ftrokes in a minute, took in the evening two grains of the powdered leaves fulpended in about an ounce of tem- perate water. In1 5|io|i5|ao *5|3°Uof45l5o|55,6o!6i 70 CO Pulfe beat '81I838381 79 7878,767473^170^;68 Minutes. Strokes. ( 22 ) In five minutes his pulfe was quicker, and between the tenth and fifteenth minute, he was affected with a flight pain of the head. In fixteen minutes he ex- perienced a heavinefs in his eyes; in twenty his hands and feet were warm and fweaty; and his pulfe was full and tenfe. In feventy, his face was fluflied; and in eighty, naufea fupervened. He now drank fome cold water, which relieved the naufea, and the other fymp- toms. On the fucceeding morning he informed me, that he felt unufually cheerful, and that his appetite was increafed. EXPERIMENT XXV. V. M. on whom experiment 23d. was inftituted, his pulfe beating eighty times in a minute, took four grains of the powdered leaves. Inj 2 Pulfe beatj8i!76 10 15 20 8078 7674 35 45J50 746866 60J75I Minutes. 66 66' Strokes. In twelve minutes the pulfe was more full and tenfe, and the heat of his face and hands was increafed. In twenty-eight minutes his head became giddy, and his ftomach fick. This ficknefs at ftomach was of fhort duration. In about forty-eight minutes the full- nefs and tenfion of his pulfe had rather increafed. In about feventy minutes evident intoxication was indu- ced, refembling that which arifes from drinking alco- hol. His cheeks and his eyes were reddened; his pupils were dilated; his voice faultered; and he was ( 23 ) hardly capable of fitting erect. About the eightieth minute he took fome tea, which obviated in fome meafure the prececjing fymptoms. In a ihort time his pulfe was felt, and it beat eighty-four ftrokes in a minute. This experiment was made in the evening. During the night he experienced much head-ache and thirft. On the fucceeding morning his tongue was covered with a white pellicle. He was troubled with head-ache and with pain in his limbs for many fubfe- quent days. Thefe latter fymptoms regularly fuperven- ed upon the approach of evening, and continued tiU morning. EXPERIMENT XXVI. I gave to I. C. about fifty years old, and laboring under mania of diminifhed violence, five grains of the powdered leaves. Previoufly to exhibiting the medicine, his pulfe beat eighty-three times in a minute. In~^T~ Pulfe beat 75 7* 74 2 6130 6160 45|5o|55 6670'77 70 80 75'80 Minutes. Strokes. In about eight minutes fome naufea occurred: his pulfe was more tenfe. In twenty minutes he had an urinary difcharge ; in thirty his pulfe had become full. The Peruvian bark, he faid, that he had taken, had made him thirfty. He drank fome water. In forty- two minutes the heat of his body was manifeftly in- creafed; and in fifty his cheeks were reddened. About the fifty-eighth minute he had an alvine, and urinary ( n ) difcharge. In feventy minutes he was thirfty again, and drank; in ninety he had another evacuation of urine. EXPERIMENT XXVII. I gave to M. F. on whom experiment 24 was made, fix grains of the powdered 'eaves diffufed in water. Previoufly to taking the medicine, his pulfe was fome- what full and tenfe, and beat eighty ftrokes in a minute. ,*| "i|~6|io|i7|^o|^j^|35|4oT45!5oJ6o:65'70J75|8ojT8|9o| 95JioojM p.b 80 84 78 7775 74I747477 79 80 Po'p6 f*7 ?". 87 TOO QO! 1Q2 1Q5 S< In five minutes his pulfe had undergone fome in- creafe in tenfion, and he thought that his eyes had be- come flightly dim. Before ten minutes had elapfed his hands were warmer, and he had experienced a flight pain in the back part of his head, which was fucceeded by dullnefs of mind. In thirty minutes this dullnefs was diminilhed. About the thirty fixth minute he took four grains more of the powder. On the fcrty-fecond minute his pulfe had increafed in tenfion, and in fixty in quicknefs. In feventy mi- nutes he was thirfty, dull, and fleepy; in feventy-five he experienced fome head ache. About the eightieth minute he was bled to ten ounces. His pulfe imme- diately afterwards was lefs tenfe, and quick, and his head-ache, and difpofition to fleepinefs, though not his thirft, were removed. In ninety-five minutes his ( 25 ) body was warmer, and his thirft greater. I was now obliged to leave him. In three hours I faw him again. During my abfence he had taken forre drink, flept, and difcharged a confiderabie quantity of urine. He had continued free from any pain in his head; the heat of his body had grea ly diminilhed, and his pulfe was full and foft, and only beat feventy-two ftrokes in a minute. It may be proper to obferve that in the beginning of this experiment my patient was lifting, and that when his pulfe was laft felt he was in a re- cumbent pofture. The blood which was drawn evi- denced a degree of fizinefs. EXPERIMENT XXVIII. After bringing the heart of a frog into view, a few drops of the expreffed juice of the leaves were applied to it. It ceafed to move in a few minutes; and it could not be roufed into frefh motion by pricking it with the point of a fcalpel. The fcalpel was applied afterwards 10 fome of its mufcles, and they contracted. EXPERIMENT XXIX. Upon bringing into view the heart of a young dog, and the ventricles ceafin? to beat, I injected into the vena cava fome of the expreffed juice. The motion of the heart was renewed; and the heart pulfated manv times. D ( 26 ) EXPERIMENT XXX. Upon bringing into view the heart of a frog, about three drachms of the exprefled juice was injected into the inteftines. Previoufly to the injection, the heart beat nineteen ftrong ftrokes in a minute-. In five minutes it beat nineteen quick and ftronger ftrokes. In ten minutes it beat eighteen ftrokes; in fifteen, feven- teen; in twenty, fixteen; in twenty-five, twelve; and in thirty, eight. After the twentieth minute its mo- tions gradually leffened in ftrength till they entirely ceafed. This frog lived about an hour and an half. Another one treated in the fame manner, but without the injection, lived for feveral hours. EXPERIMENT XXXI. After removing a portion of the cranium in fuch a manner as to bring the brain into view, fome of the expreffed juice was applied to the part. Convulfions were the immediate confequenee, the frog dying in three minutes. EXPERIMENT XXXII. About two drachms of the juice were injected into the cavity of the abdomen of a dog. Upon killing the ani- '(' 27 ) mal about two hours afterwards and infpecting the ab- domen, a portion of the furface of the inteftines, and a part of the omentum and peritonaeum were preter- naturally reddened. EXPERIMENT XXXIII. About half an ounce of the expreffed juice of the leaves, was injected into the jugular vein of a bitch. She made one violent ftruggle and died. She lived about half a minute after injecting the juice: Upon diffedion, her blood was found fluid; and a white coagulum had extenfively formed in the right auricle and ventricle of the heart. The brain was more wa- tery than natural. EXPERIMENT XXXIV. More than an ounce of the expreffed juice was in- jeded into the redum of a fmall dog. In a few mi- nutes the pulfe became more frequent and quick. In about ten minutes he endeavoured to vomit, but his endeavours were ineffedual. His ftomach was oppreff- ed, and fomething regurgitated into his mouth which was fwallowed as often as it regurgitated. In fifteen minutes he had feveral ftools, which confifted of faeces and of the expreffed juice. After thefe difcharges, frelh efforts to vomit enfued, but they were as vain as the former. He tottered as he walked. In half an ( 28 ) hour he became dull and flept. During his fleep his whoie ira.i e .\as utleded wuh frequent tremulous mo- tions or iiariiitgc. He did not fleep long, made again effo.ts to votnit; aitemp ed to waik, but was unable ; laid doun. He now lei I into a fleep, of greater co^n- pofuie, and of longer continuance. On the enfumg day he was languid, but able to walk, and took fome nouriihment, and gradually recovered. EXPERIMENT XXXV. To another dog whof pulfe was at one hundred and eleven in a minute, I gave about an ounce and an half of a fpirituous tindure of the leaves. The pulfe gradually increafed in quicknefs, and in fre- quency ; and in thirty minutes it beat one hundred and forty ftrokes. In twenty three minutes derangement of mind came on ; the animal running in circles, into the fire, againft the furniture of the room, tumbling on her fide, rolling on her back, and agitating her feet in the air. She was now bled from one of the jugular veins. Her blood, as it flowed, was florid ; upon Handing fome time the craffamentum floated in the ferum, was fomewhat loofe in its texture, and numerous red particles were depofited at the bottom of the bowl. Upon killing and diffeding the animal, neither her flelh, nor her fecretions appeared to be imbued with the o or of the tindure of the leaves. In this experiment I was induced to pay attention to the odor of rhe fl4h and fecretions, as I had once made a fimilar experiment with the tindure of opium, and ( 29' ) found that the whole animal upon diffedic-n feem- ed to be impregnated wi,h its fmell. The portion of the tindure of opium ufed, was about three ounces. EXPERIMENT XXXVI. I poured an ounce and an half of the expreffed juice down the throat of a dog ufed in the la ft experi- ment except one. His heart afterwards beat flow and ftrong ftrokes. His refpiraticn became more and more laborious, and at length the thorax moved with fuch force, and irregularity, that the pulfations of the heart could not be felt. His fl ep, when he flept, was reft lefs and imperfed. During the two following days he drank, but eat little, flept much, and was found dead on the morning of the fourth day. Upon removing a portion of the cranium the brain was found to be watery. About two drachms of limpid fluid were found in the ventricles of the brain. The lungs appeared to be furcharged with blood. The valve of the pylorus was greatly contraded. The contents of the ftomach were yellowiih, and confifted partly of the medicine which had been taken. The gall-bladder was highly diftended with a dark colored bile; and much bile of the fame color was found in the inr teftines. ( 30 ) EXPERIMENT XXXVII. I obtained a dog that labored under periodical twitchings or convulfions, which occurred every three or four minutes. He appeared to be old, his frame was emaciated, his countenance dull, and when he walked, his fteps were flow and irregular. To this dog I gave a fcruple of the extrad of the leaves, which was repeated feveral times. The effeds of the medicine were frequent black ftools, a frequent flo.v of darkifh urine, thirft, languor, and emaciation of the body. But this treatment did not diminiih his convulfions. I now remitted the medicine for feveral weeks. During this period he became fatter, and more lively than I had hitherto feen him. Upon repeating the medicine in larger dofes, fimilar ef- feds as before, but of a more violent nature, were produced. His refpiration became laborious and flow; and his death foon occured. Upon opening his abdo- men a large worm lay naked to the view, except its extreme parts, which were concealed by the inteftines. . I was much aftonifhed, and much delighted, at a dif- covery fo unexpected; and at once concluded, that the worm had been the caufe of convulfion in the dog. It was of a vermilion color, above a yard in length, and nearly an inch in circumference. Pro- feffor Barton, fo juftly celebrated for his profound knowledge of the objeds of nature, is of opinion, that this worm is a new fpecies of Afcaris. He pro- bably will be induced to defcribe and arrange it among $he vermes. ( 31 ) No perforation through the inteftines was obvious; they were full of a yellowifh fluid ; but not any fluid was found in the cavity of the abdomen. May we not conjedure, that the worm perforated the inteftines upon the firft exhibition of the ftramonium, which according to Dr. Rufh and Dr. Fowler is offenfive to worms. The external furface of the inteftines and ftomach were redder than natural. Some parts of the inteftines, and much of the mefentery appeared to be in a gangrenous ftate. A fmall quantity of water was found in the ventricles of the brain. Thefe laft effeds, I think, may in great meafure be attributed to the violent operation of the medicine. ( 32 ) Ohfervatlons on the preceding Experiments. It appears, that the leaves of ftramonium poffefs no effintial oil, as they afford none when diftilled with water. The diftilled water, taken into the ftomach, produces little or noeffed. Experiments l, 2. The oily matter, which rifes to the furface of the expreffed juice, cannot with ftrid propriety be called an effential oil, as it does not rife till a degree of fer- mentation occurs in the juice. This oily matter pro- bably originates from a decompolition of the refin of the fluid. The dry leaves, when expofed in a retort to a vio- lent heat, yield empyreumatic oil, and when burnt yield potafh; produds which are afforded by numer- ous vegetable fubftancess Exper. 3. 5. From four diachms of the powdered leaves, which had been expofed to repeated quantities of alcohol, twelve grains of refin were obtained. The fame leaves fubjeded to a pure water yielded one fcruple of gum- my matter, among which many very minute cryftals exifted. Had thefe cryftals been feparated from the gum, they would perhaps have amounted to three or four grains. Exper. 6. 7. Three grains of the refin, given to a healthy perfon, produced much exhilira- tion of mind, fever, and head ache, and feveral al- vine difcharges. Three grains of the gummy matter given to a healthy peifon, produced a flight exhilira- ( 33 ) tion of mind, fever and head-ache, and a copious flow of urine. Might not this gummy matter be exhibited with effed in fome dropfies? The grev, earthy, in- fipid fubftance, which, neither the alcohol, nor the water diffolved, weighed two drachms and eighteen grains. Hence it feems that the conftituent parts of the pow- dered leaves of ftramonium are a refin, a gi in, an effential fait, and an earthy matter. The refin ap- pears to be the moft adive part. The gum pofleifes a bitter, the refin, an aftringent principle. Exper. g. With regard to the other parts of the plant; the honey of the flowers, the feed and the root; my ex-- periments are extremely deficient. However I may obferve that the honey is bitter, the feed and the root fweet, and that they all in a greater or lefs degree pof- fefs the properties of the leaves. An ingenious botan- ift, William Bartram informes me, that he eats this honey with pleafure, and avidity, and without expe- riencing any thing morbid from its ufe. But my fel- low ftudent Jofeph Johnfon allures me, that he once was attacked with head-ache, and with lkknefs at ftomach, after fucking many of the flowers : and pro- feflor Barton fuppofes that this is one of the plants from which the bee, in this country, fometimes ex- tract a pernicious honey. The fweet tafte of the feed has betrayed many a child into great danger. The feed and the root are pulverized with much difficulty. WThen it 1s neceffary to refort to them, it will perhaps be belt to roaft, grind, and make the former into cof- fee; and belt to flice, and boil the latter for a decoc- tion. . In the following experiments, and cafes, I have ufed the leaves in ^reference to the other parts 'E ( 34 ) of the plant. They may be gathered, dried, and powdered with eafe. Th^y may be plucked during the flowering ftate of the -blanches, put in an airy and {haded apartment, and pulverized as foon as they be- come dry. The ufe of a fine feive will be proper to obtain the powder free from the fibres of the leaves. It may now be kept in clofe veflels; and if good, it will poffefs a beautiful green color. When this powder is applied to the tender mem- brane of the nofe it produces fneezing, and an increaf- ed flow of mucus. When taken into the mouth, it ftimulates the falivary glands into great adion. Exper. 12, 13. It difagreeably affeds the fenfes of tafte and fmelling; and if the leaves be chewed for fome time they induce a degree of intoxication. In thefe cir- cumftances ftramonium refembles nicotiana, or tobac- co. And they are fimilar in other refpeds; for the fame infed, in the catapillar, and in the fly flate, and the fame animal feed alike on both plants. Should man not alter the current of his prefent propenfities, fhould he continue to indulge a reliih for unnatural luxuries, and delight in being the ingenious tormentor of himfelf; it may be predided that ftramonium, like tobacco and alcohol, will become the bane of iociety. But a hope is entertained that future generations, taught by the experience and misfortunes cf their an- Ceftors, will relinquifh the general ufe, and prevent the introdudion, of fuch injurious articles. A drop of an infufion of the powder appfced to the eye, dilates the pupil. Exper. 15, 16. It is difficult to account for this curious effed produced on the eye. Upon the application of the infufion does an unu- fual adion occur in the external coat of that organ, ( 3.5 ) which is communicated by fympathy to the retina; an adion or affedion, which to a certain degree deprives the retina of the power of receiving the imprelTions of objeds? Or does the diffufive vapor of ftramonium, like heat or eledricity, penetrate to the retina, and excite in it a peculiar difeafe ? That fluids or vapors are capable of thus ading, is rendered fomewhat pro- bable by the following experiment. About three drachms of the powdered leaves were mixed with a pint of tepid water, and poured into a found bladder; the neck of the bladder was then tightly tied ; and as fbon as the bladder became well moift, the odor of the ftramonium was perceptible on its furface. And the great Dodor Darwin, in the fecond volume of his work entitled Zoonomia, fays, " There appear to be three different modes by which extraneous bodies may be introduced into the fyftem, befides that of absorp- tion, lft. By ethereal tranfition, as heat and elec- triditv; 2d. by chemical attradion, as oxigene; and 3d. by expanfive vapor, as ether, and effential oils." That the infufion applied to the eye is abforbed, and pro4nces its effed through the medium of the circu- lating fluids, is an opinion, which is highly improba- ble. If the infufion aded through this medium, both eyes would be alike affeded. The following inftance of the adion of ftramonium on the eye is a curious one, and it favors what we faid in a former experi- ment. '.- The late Dr. Bond had under his care a pa- tient, a young girl, who had put the feeds of this plant into her eye, which dilated the pupil to fuch a degree, that {he could fee in the dark, but in the light was almoft blind." Appendix to Notes on Virginia, written by Thomas Jefferfon. Since this vegetable ( 36 ) is capable of ading with fuch energy on the eye, we may exped, that it will fooner or later be ap- plied with fuccefs, in fome difeafes of that exquifite organ. If the leaves be pounded into a foft poultice, and applied to a part frocu which the cuticle is removed, they excite heat and pain; if aoplied to a part, which is fhield^d by the cuticle, no effed feems to be pro- duced. Exper. 18. j. ut if a decodion of the leaves be rubbed for fome time on the furface of the body, febrile fymptoms wi'i be excited. Exper. 19. The decodion externally applied to a very young rat, feem- ed to induce convulfions. Exper. 20. The exhalation of ftramonium excites head-ache and fever in the human fyftem. Exper. 21. This exhalation, I endeavoured to colled, by putting many branches of the plant under a large glafs veffel full of water, and afterwards expofing it to the fun. But in this I did not fucceed; the water imbibed the exhala- tion. That the vapor emanating from this plant is capable of producing febrile adion, is an opinion, which is fupported by many fads. The following communications countenance this opinion. " Below the falls of Ohio (fays a very intelligent gentleman*) I lay fome days in camp, with General Putnam, and feveral others. Here the earth was extenfively cover- ed with ftramonium in full bloffom, whofe ftrong odor produced a pain in my head, which continued after leaving that place and till we arrived in the Wa- balh river. I was now feized with a fever, which had nearly proved fatal, and which was fucceeded by a • John Heckeweldcr of Bethlehem in Pennfylvania, in a letter. ( 37 ) giddincfs of the head of many weeks continuance. General Putnam was alfo attacked with this fever; he recovered, though his recovery was not expeded. Al- though my illnefs, and General Putnam's might have arifen from breathing the fogs of the river, yet as I had been accuftomed to thefe fogs before without being affeded by them, I have ever been of opinion, that my fever originated from the fcent of thefe plants." And Profeffor Barton has been informed, that juft before the peace of 1783, it was fuppofed by the phy- ficians of New-York, that the great abundance of ftramonium in the vicinity of that city had produced fevers; and that on this account the plant was cut down. For a fimilar reafon (according to the fame excellent Profeffor) a law has been lately paffed at St. Vincennes on the river Wabaih, for deftroying this plant. The inhabitants of the place affert, that pre- vioufly to its introdudion* among them, they knew * Colonel Winthrop Sargent informed Dr. Barton, that the Datma Stramonium has been known to exift on the grounds near the river Wabafli above 12 01 14 yeats. Ta thefe parts it was probabiy conveyed by accident or curiofity. Some peilons much admire its flowers. In a letter already quoted, that 1 received from I. Hecke- welder of Bethlehem, there is the following information worthy of note. He fays. '• I met with this plant about the year 1769, for the firft time on the road fiom from this place (Bethlehem) to Philadelphia. Its flower pleafed me fo well, that after its feeds were ripe, I took fome of them home with me, and planted them on a farm near Nazareth. I found the plant at fome places on the river Ohio; particu- larly at Fort Washington, This plant does not grow about Bethlehem, and does net appear in feveral parts of Pennfylvania." Pro-elfor Kaim, who travelled about fitly years ago through this country, from Wilmington in Delaware ftat.e, to Quebec in Canada, only fpeaks of the Datura Stramonium, as growing between Wilmington and Philadelphia. From thefe and other circumftances it is doubtful whether the thorn- apple is a native of all of the United States. Perhaps it is not a native of any one of them. , , In a former part of this work I might have obferved that the plant is frequently called %*« -o-wn, or Jamefon Weed, bccaufe a number of fallors were once vio- lently difeafed by ignoramly eating the boiled plant at James To-wn in Vnrg.rua. In like manner I might have obferved -.tot it is called French Chefnutin New- Jcrfey. ( 38 ) not what a remitting fevc" was. It may be faid, that the preceding opinions reladve to the produdion of fever by its exhalation, are founded on deception; and that fever in thefe inftances might have arifen from the common caufe, vegetable and animal putre- fadion. It cannot perhaps be declared, that no pu- trid animals and vegetables exifted at Fort Vincennes, and the other places; where the vapor of the thorn- apple feemed to produce fuch morbid effeds. Vegeta- ble and animal putrefadion might have exifted in thefe places, and co-operate with the fcent of the plant in producing difeafe. As alcohol gives origin toafebrils difpolition in the fyftem, in like manner, the fcent of thefe plants might have difpofed lo the produdion of fever. But their vapor or fcent, I fhould imagine, would be highly equivolent, without the aid of any other caufe, to give rife to fevers of a remitting type; efpecially when we recoiled that the leaf can excite head-ache, convulfion, and mania. Alcohol and opium alone have excited the mod violent difeafes. I law, I think, towards the clofe of Jaft autumn, a cafe of true yellow fever which was induced in a perfon fomewhat depreffed in his mind, who for feveral days had taken nothing except repealed quantities of wine and brandy. And it is well known that a kind of apoplexy origi- nates from an exceftive dofe of opium. Thus we fee that many morbid ftimuli ad with equal violence, and in a way fomewhat fimilar on the human fyftem; hence may we not be led to conjedure that their conftituent principles may be the fame, at leaft in fome degree, though differently combined? ( 39 ) Might not this adive vegetable exhalation * be breathed with advantage in fome weak habits, and in fome cafes in which the inteftines and ftomach are not able to retain medicine ? Would it not. make a good addition to the pneumatic Materia Meaica, a fcience which has been cultivated with confiderable fuccefs by Dr. Beddoes? Thus, former phyficians were in the habit of placing the poppy in the chambers of perfons laboring under certain difeafes; a pradice which might perhaps be revived, and extended with advantage, to many plants. One grain of the powdered leaves taken in a fmall quantity of temperate water, in the fpace o' fifteen minutes, increafed the frequency, and force of the pulfe ; and finally produced thirft and fleepinefs. Exper. 22. In five minutes two grains of the fame medicine in- creafed the frequency of the pulfe. In a longer fpace of time, they rendered it full and quick, as well as more frequent; and produced the following fymp- toms, giddinefs, warm fkin, moift hands and face, intoxication, fleepinefs. Exper. 23. The fame quantity of medicine, given to an older » perfon than either of the two former, rendered the pulfe full and tenfe ; produced cbeerfulnefs, and in- creafed the appetite for food. Exper. 24. The medicine given in larger dofes produced full- nefs, quicknefs, and tenfion, rather than frequency, * The other fpecies of Datura probably exhale a ftrong odor. In a garden, which Dr. Smith vifited on the continent, he fays, that the Datura arborea covered with its magnificent and fragrant flowers was at this time the fineft thing, and had crowds of villtors every evening. Few people could fupport its perfume any length • 1 time. Sketch of a Tcur on the Continent in the ysars 1786 and 1787, Vol. I. p. 11S. ( -;» ) in the pulfe; produced intoxication, difficulty of fpeech, and great third ; dilated the pupils of the eyes; rendered the blood fizy and the ftomach fick ; opened the bowels; increafed the flow of urine ; and gave origin to febrile fymptoms of fome days continuance. Exper. 25, 26, 27. From the preceding fymptoms produced by ftramo- nium, we may infer that this fubftance is a ftimulant. The experiments on frogs and dogs tend to confirm this opinion. They moreover ferve to point out its higher degrees of adion. Like other ftimulants ftramonium exhaufts the irri- tability of the animal body. The expreffed juice of the leaves applied to the heart of a dog deftroyed its motion in a few minutes. Exper. 28. But the fame fluid injeded into the vena cava of a dog, after the heart had ceafed to beat, ftimulated it into frefti mo- tion. Exper. 29. The juice when injeded into the redum of a frog, a part of whofe thorax had been previoufly removed that the heart might be viewed, feemed to accelerate its death. And death is accelerated in frogs that are treated in this way, with opium, fpirit of hartfhorn, and fpirit of wine ; if we may truft the experiments of the ingenious Dr. Crumpe. The juice applied to the brain produced convul- fions ; injeded into the abdomen, rednefs, or infla- mation, of iome of its contents; injeded into the blood, immediate death. Inftead of the ^uice, if water had been injeded into the blood, a lefs fudden death I fufped, would have been the confequence. Exper. 31, 32, 33. ( 4' ) The juice injeded into the rednm of a dog induced ficknefs at ftomach, and feemed to diforder the whole alimentary canal; induced intoxication, fleep, and convulfive motions. Exper. 34. The juice injeded into the rectum of a cat produced a violent cough of many days continuance; and in another, it produced a partial lofs of hair, and a flight fcurfinefs of the (kin. The blood drawn from an animal laboring under the effects of a fpirituous tincture of the leaves, was found to be loofe in its texture; red particles were depofited at the bottom of the bowl; figns according to Dr. Rulh of high inflammatory action in the fyf- tem. In an animal deftroyed by ftramonium, two drachms of water were found in the ventricles of the bram; and diffolved blood appeared in the blood-veffels, and dark colored bile in the inteftines, and a gall-blad- der. In another, the fa Tie caufe gave origin to a gan- grenous ftate of the mefentery and inteftines. Ex. 37. Drs. Whytt and Woodhoufe have found, that the fluid occafionally effufed in the ventricles of the brain refembles water rather than ferum, as it does not co- agulate upon being expofed to the action of heat. This fluid perhaps confifts of water, and a very fmall portion of marine fait. It is doubtlefs effufed by vef- fels of very fine organization. I have found that it neither coagulates with heat, with fpirit of wine, or with vitriolic acid ; but a flight precipitation feemed to take place upon mixing it with a folution of cauftic vegetable alkali. The effufed fluid that I employed was taken from a perfon who died of mania laft year, in the Pennfylvania Hofpital. ( 4* ) Hence, ftramonium inflames the eye, dilates the pupil of that organ, increafes the action of the arte- ries, and the h^t of the body. It gives origin to intoxication, or mania, r.o cunvulfion in the mufcles, and to inflammation in the bowels and difpofes the liver to fecrete an altered bile. It gives origin to gangrene in the inteftines and mefentery, to eftufiort in the brain, renders the blood fizy, loofens and dif- folves its texture. Neither ^p'um, hyofciamus, or cicuta, I believe, affect the eyes fo much as ftramonium. The fever, the intoxication, and the convulfions, which this laft article excites, are probably fympathetic affections depending on its local application to the ftomach or inteftines. We cannot with propriety attribute fuch affections to its abforpfion, and confequent diffufion through the body. Some abforption may take place; yet that they are produced in this way, is oppofed by their fudden exiftence upon the application of the ar- ticle, and their fudden difappearance upon its removal. Stramonium taken into the ftomach, in a very few minutes affects the head and the arteries. In the firft volume of the American Philofophical Tranfactions, Dr. Rufh has related the cafe of a child who was much affected in corifequence of fwallowing the feeds. In this cafe the fymptoms were fever, tremors, blind- nefs, and an eruption on the fkin, which immediately difappeared upon the final evacuation of the feeds from the ftomach and inteftines, by the repeated ufe of vomits and purges. The intoxication or mania, which ftramonium in- duces, feems to be analogous to that which arifes ficm the action of opium, alcohol and fome other ftimu- ( 43 ) Jants. Like alcohol it iometimes induces mania of many days continuance. In Beverley's Hiftory of Vir- ginia, a remarkable account is related of its effects on feveral perfons, who gathered, boiled, and ate it for greens. In each of thefe perfons it feems, diat a ma- nia came on, which lalled about eleven days.* Acr Cording to fome it has induced mania which has conti- nued during life. Do not fuch facts throw a blaze of light on the nature of the mind? Should we not be induced to attempt the difcovery of other articles which affect the mind? May not articles exift which are capable of affecting all its different faculties? May not pofterity gain a dominion over it, nearly as complete as that, which we poffefs over the foil of our gardens? In two perfonsf who boiled the leaves for vegetable food in New Jerfey, violent difeafes fupcrvened; mania in one, and tetanus in the other. Two chil- dren who had eaten of the feeds, feemed to labor un- der hydrophobia according to Dr. Lobftein.^ T hey rejected every kind of liquid, and on offering a cup- * The James-Town weed being an early plant was gathered very young for a boiled falad, by fome of the foldiers fent thither; and fome of them eat pienti- fully of it, the effect of which was a very pleafant comedy; for they turned natural fools upon it for feveral days: one would blow up a feather in the air; an- other would dart ftraws at it with much fury; and another ftark naked was fitting up in a corner, like a monkey, grinning and making mouths at them; a iourth would fondly kifs and paw his companions, and fneer in their faces, with a coun- tenance more antic than any in a Dutb Droll. In this frantic condition they were confined, left they fhould ia their folly deftroy themfelves; though it was obferved, that all their actions were full of innocence and good nature., Indeed they were not very cleanly; for they would have wallowed in their own excrements, if they had not been prevented. A thoui'and fuch fimple tricks they played, and after eleven days returned to themfelves again, not remembering anything that had paffed. Beverley's Hiftory of the prefent ftate of Virginia. Boak a, page 24. London, 1705. + Dr. Barton's Lectures on the Materia Medica. % Medical Tranfaclions, Vol. V. page *\}. ( 44 ) full of drink to them, the moment it touched their lips violent fpafms invaded the throat. Thus it feems that one caufe ading on different conftitutions may be capable of giving origin to three feemingly differ- ent d'feaes, or moi id ftates of the fyftem, mania, tetanus, and hydrophobia. May we not hence con- jedure, that whenever thefe difeafes exift, they are owing to caufes which are the fame, or which ad in a fiirilar manner. Thefe caufes mull be of a ftimu- lating nature, and excite exceflive and irregular adion in the fyftem. If we would obviate this adion, we mull have recourfe to remedies, which eradicate the original caufe of it, or which by their fedativc opera- tion dimin fh the commotion, or oppreffion of the fyftem. Dr. kuih, who ma\ be juftly ftiled the father of medicine in this country, has attributed difeafes in general, to ftimulus, as their remote, and to ex- ceflive and irregular adion, as their proximate caufe. Do not th fads juft mentioned in fome meafure con- firm the juftnefs of his theory of difeafe. But the juftnefs Oi his theory is better confirmed by the fuc- cefs which attends its application to medicine. Stramonium difpofes the liver to morbid fecretion. In thus ading it refembles opium, alcohol, and the miafma,which produces intermitting and yellow fevers. But it does not conftipate the bowels like opium. On this account it may prove more ufefui than opium in certain difeafes. In not conftipating the bowels it refembles byofciamus niger, or henbane, which keeps the inteftines lax, according to Dr. Barton's ingeni- ous experiments on this plant. The inflammation and gangrene in the inteftines, the effufion of water in the brain, the fizy, loofe, and diffolved blood, pro- ( 45 ) duced by the adion of ftramonium on animals, pof- fef- a great fimilitude to the effeds of malignant fevers on man. There are many inftances of death being the con- fequence of taking ftramonium. Some years ago, in the county of Burlington in New Jerfey, two chil- dren* were deftroyed by eating its feeds. In cafes in which our plant is taken into the fto- mach, the feeds, the leaves, or the root, the beft remedies will be vomits and purges often repeated to evacuate the offending fubftance; and copious bleed- ings to diminifh, or obviate the violence of its adion. Dr. Rufli has evinced the utility of vomits and purges, for obviating the effeds of this plant; and that bleed- ing will alfo be proper, I infer from its fuccefsful ufe, in cafes wherein the hyofciamus niger or common henbane, and opium, have been taken into the fto- mach. Sir Hans Sloane cured four children, by bleed- ing, blifters and purges, who were feized with great thirft, vertigo, dimneis cf fight, and profound ileep, upon eating the feeds cf the hyofciamus niger. And Dr. Rufh has lately applied copious bleedings with fuccefs in the difeafe which arifes from 1 wallow- ing opium. But the following cafe in the beft manner anfwers my purpofe. In a child that had taken into her ftomach fome of the feeds of ftramonium laft fall, blood-letting and purges were ufed with the beft effeds. The blood which was drawn was cupped. This patient I faw. She was attended by my ingenious friend Dr. Caldwell. In * This information I received from my refpectable and intelligent friend, Samuel Ceats, one of the Managers of the Pennfylvania Hofpital. ( 4^ ) flight cafes, or after the uk of more powerful reme- dies the vegetable acid may prove ferviceable. In affedions produced by the plant, it has been ufed with advantage by the late Dr. Bend and others. But a plant diffufing fuch a poifonous exhalation fhould not be fuffered to grow upon farms, near roads and houfes, or upon vacant grounds in cities. The rich foil, which it infefts, and impoverilhes, fhould be furrendered to more lalutary vegetables. Its abode fhould be confined to the remoteft corners of private medical or botanical gardens. Few or no accidents would then arife to children from fwallowing its feeds; foreigners, or ignorant perfons would not be tempt- ed to ufe it for food ; its morbid exhalation would feldom or never be breathed; and when recourfe was had to its aid, as a remedy, it would more readily af- fed the human fyftem. From what has been related relative to the effeds of ftramonium on the animal body, we may fairly con- clude that it is a ftimulant. In this opinion we are not alone. It is held and taught by two cf the Pro- feffors in the Univerfity of Pennfylvania ; and in the fecond volume of the Zoonomia it is enumerated among the inciting articles of the Materia Medica. ( 47 ) On the ufe of Stramonium in Medicine, To that acute phyfician Dr. Storck, are we indebted for introducing the Datura Stramonium in the cure of difeafes. He exhibited an extrad of the leaves of this plant with advantage, in fome cafes of mania, in epi- lepfy, and fome other convulfive affedions. In fimi- lar cafes this remedy vvas afterwards ufed by Dr. We- denberg and Dr. Odhelius and with confiderable fuc- cefs. Dr. Greding was then induced to try the Stra- monium ; he gave it in a great number of epileptic cafes, and in cafes of epilepfy joined with mania, and only found the remedy to be effedual in a fingle in- ftance. And the late very refpedable Dr. Cullen thinks, that it is feldom fuited to the cure of fuch dif- eafes. Yet, as if unwilling to decide on a fubjed con- cerning which fuch different opinions were entertain- ed; he fays, "■ Neverthelefs, I have no doubt that Narcotics may be a remedy in certain cafes of mania and epilepfy; but I have not, and I doubt if any other perfon has, learned to diftinguiih the cafes to which fuch remedies are properly adapted." Thus it feems that Drs. Storck, Wedenberg, and Odhelius, gave the medicine with fuccefs, while Dr. Greding found it to be nearly ufelefs. The former phyticians might have given it in proper cafes, and dofes, while the latter one in thefe refpeds might have erred. On the occafion Dr. Cullen deduces ( 48 ) nothing fro n his own experience. He conhders ftra- monium as a narcotic, and therefore a fedative. But the preceding experiments and obfervations I hope will evince, that it produces ftimulating effeds on the animal body. The folio.;ing cafes may in fome mec.fure point out the conditions of the fyftem in which it may prove ufefui. The preparation of the plant ^ iJch has been chief- ly given in thefe cafes is the ponder of the leaves. The dofe is from half a grain to four grains, mixed with conferve of rofes or water twice or thrice in the day. IN EPILEPSY. Dr. Rush has greatly Amplified and elucidated the fubjed of Nofology, by confidering pleurify, phrenitis, mania, apoplexy, and numerous other difeafes, is febrile ftates of the fyftem. To the number of thefe febrile ftates of the fyftem, I think epilepfy tiiight be added. For it is induced by the fame caufes which induce other fevers. Thefe caufes are alcohol, terror, obftinate coftivenefs, a ceffation of certain difchar- ges, as in the cafes of piles, ulcers, &c. It ap- pears to be a fever, at leaft a compound one, becaufe during the exiftence of a paroxyfm the pulfe is un- commonly tenfe, and full, the face red, and the pupils of the eyes dilated; fymptoms which frequently occur in fevers. Moreover in the intervals between the fits the patient is fubjed to vertigo, and his tongue is for ( 49 ) the moft part white. Like other fevers, epilepfy gen- erally attacks the young, and the plethoric, and oc- curs in the night, and fometimes changes into mania. In a woman, who, during the exiftenceof a paroxifm, died of epilepfy in the Pennfylvania Hofpital, in the fpring of 1796, the arteries of the brain feemed to be enlarged to twice their ufual fize. Other diffedions have difcovered water, and hydatids in the brain ; ef- feds which probably refulted from morbid adion in the arteries of that vifcus.* Dr. Rufh has effedually cured it once or twice by mercury ; but, has not, I believe, fucceeded always upon ufing this remedy. In epilepfy Dr. Darwin has exhibited opium with great fuccefs. I fufped that ftramonium is a remedy which is equal, if not fuperior to either of thefe, in the pre- fent difeafe. It is a lefs difagreeable remedy to the patient than mercury, as it does not confine him to his bed, by inducing a painful affedion ; and it feems to anfwer all the purpofes of opium, without conftipat- ing the bowels. It was ufed with confiderable fuccefs in the cafe of a boy about twelve years old, in the Pennfylvania Hofpital, in part of the autumn and winter of 1796. I will briefly relate his cafe. If the contagion of the yellow fever did not occafion his epi- * This difeafe has been cured, or fufpended by the fmall-pox, by pulmonic, and by intermitting fe-er. 1~ was informed by a black man, whom I could believe, that he had been suicevery fubjecl to fits, which according to his defcription ami) have been of the epileptic kind ; and that his fits had never returned upon his violently having the natural fmall-pox. There is at this time a patient in the Pennfylvania Hofpital, who has been long fubjecl to epileptic fits, yet upon his being lately attacked with pulmonic fever, they have entirely ceafed to occur. A boy who was much lurraifed by fits remained free from them for feveral months; but during this time lie labored under an intermitting fever, as preletuly will appear. Hence is it not probable that epilepfy is a fever, as it Utnj:, it k-iii ibicetimei to change into j;l.si livers. G ( 5° ) lepfy, the caufe of it is unknown. I am informed by his friends, that he had the firft epileptic fit during the prevalence of the yellow fever in Philadelphia in 1793; that he had another in about two months after- wards ; and that the fits in 179..-, and in the beginning of 1795 occurred fomewhat more frequently, till he at length had one about every two weeks. But I am told that in the fummer of 1795 he was fent into the coun- try, wdrere he was attacked by an intermitting fever, under which he labored for four or five months. Du- ring this period, it feems that his fits entirely left him; but that they returned upon the difappearance of the fever. In the winter of 1795, and in the fpring and fummer of I796*, he took the cuprum ammonaicum and fome other remedies, which feemed in fome mea- fure to lengthen the intervals between the fits. But not being durably relieved by thefe remedies, they were difcontinued; and he was admitted a patient in- to the Pennfylvania Hofpital in the autumn of laft year. He now had three or four fits every week. Dr. Shippen who was at that time the attending phy-> fician, prefcribed for him Fowler's mineral folution to be given in fmall quantities. As the fits became more frequent upon ufing the folution, it was difcontinued. Half a grain of the powdered leaves of ftramonium was now prefcribed; it was to be taken in the morning and evening, and the dofe was gradually increafed to three grains twice in the day. Upon taking this laft medicine, his fits foon began to diminifh in force and frequency ; and at length he appeared to be cured of them. It is proper to obferve that he was bled and purged before taking the ftramonium, and was bled again a week or two afterwards. And that at a time ( 5« ) when he feemed to be threatened with a paroxifm, Dr. Rufh, who fucceeded Dr. Shippen in the Hofpital, had him bled with obvious advantages. WTould not the application of preffure to the carotid artery juft before its commencement, prevent the fit? This boy was difcharged from the Hofpital as cured, but I am lorry to add that after remaining about five months free from the fits, he has had a return of them. About the beginning of this fpring after getting his feet wet by long expofure on a rainy day, and coming in the evening into a clofe warm room, and having to do fome work which required ftooping, he was feized with a fit. He has had feveral of them within the two laft months; but he has lately been bled and purged, andrefumed the pills with much advantage. The laft fit and the preceding one have been lefs violent, and more protraded in their accefs. By bleeding and ftramonium a perfed cure may yet be effeded. If they fhould fail the age of puberty may make a favor- able change in his fyftem. I gave two grains of the powdered leaves every evening to a woman about thirty years old, having imperfed fpeech, and a kind of catalepfy, which re- turned every night, aiid lafted about an hour. Thefe aftedions, I believe, arofe from frequent fpirituous intoxication. Upon taking the medicine about three weeks, fhe appeared to be cured of the catalepfy, and relieved of the imperfed fpeech. Might not ftramo- nium be taken as a fubftitute for alcohol in perfons, who wifh to relinquifh the ufe, or who fuffer great inconvenience from the want, of this noxious ar- ticle? ( 5* ) Two grains of the powdered leaves taken evening and morning, feemed to be of much fervice to a wo- man, who had long been fubjed to tremors of the limbs, and occafional epileptic fits; affedions which feemed chiefly to arife from a contortion and ulcer in the foot. Our remedy wq? given in fome cafes of epilepfy in the Alms Houfe of this city with a fuccefs not to be regretted. Dr. Hart, who attended to its effeds, in- formed me, that it performed a cure in one of them ; and that it relieved the others. The following valuable obfervations on the effeds of ftramonium in epileply, I lately received in an obliging letter, from Dr. John Archer of Harford county, Maryland. This letter contains other obfer- vations refpeding the ufe of ftramonium, which I fhail detail in their proper places. " I have admini- ftered the ftramonium to feveral with various effeds, to fome with great advantage, and to others without any other advantage than prolonging the time of the return of the fit, or only leffening its duration. I ob- ferved that thofe, who had regular returns of the fits, or had them at fhort intervals, received the greateft benefit; becaufe they could take a fufhcient quantity of the medicine before the time of a return. By this means the return of the fit was prevented, then attending to the time another fit fhould return, the medicine was again given, and in general a cure obtained; but thofe, who had irregular returns of the fits, unlefs of fhort duration, could not take the ftra- monium fo as to ad at the time of the fit, as it came on unexpededly; thefe were not much benefited. ( 53 ) " In the epilepfy with regular periods of return, I order two grains of the powdered feeds made into a pill, to be given every four hours, until fome fenfi- ble effeds are produced ; and then lengthen the time to fix or eight hours, fo as to keep up fome fenfible operation of the medicine, until the time of the fit. The medicine is now to be omitted till three or four days before the next return. It is then to be exhibited as before. To ufe the ftramonium with effed in thefe cafes, and with any benefit in the preceding ones, low diet and occafional blood-letting fhould be enjoined. •* I need fcarcely remark to you that thofe patients, who have irregular returns of the fits with long inter- vals, mull take the ftramonium cenftantly, elfe they will mifs the proper time of taking it. In fuch cafes though it may not prevent the return of the fits, it may mitigate their violence. I have alfo remarked that it is adminiftered with little or ;ro advantage to thofe patients, who are become fimple or fooliih by the violence or long continuance of the difeafe. " The feeds fhould be gathered when fully ripe be- fore the froft and the rains injure them. The beft feeds for ufe are of a blackifh color. Take a fcruple of the powdered feeds, half a fcruple of flower, and a fufficient quantity of water; mix them well, and divide them into ten pills. Thefe are to be given as already direded. " I do believe the feeds of flramonium to be a valu- able medicine in many difeafes ; I have tried them in feveral others with great advantage, as mania, re- tention of urine, &c. but they muft be given with re- ( 54 ) gularity and attention. In my opinion in a regular epilepfy, it is as powerful, as the peruvian bark in in- termittents." In the cure of epilepfy how does ftramonium ad. Does it ad by giving origin to a new difeafe, or by wafting that general or partial accumulation of exci- tability, or fenforiaJ power, which favors the produdi- on of a paroxyfm ? In Mania. This difeafe, which Dr. Rufh has proved to be a fever, may in fome of its forms be obviated or relieved by ftramonium. In J. B. this remedy appeared to effed a cure. Being deranged in his mind, and fome- what outrageous he was admitted into the Hofpital du- ring Dr. Parke's attendance laft fummer. He was bled and pujged feveral times ; in confequence of this treatment he became fomewhat more rational. After thefe remedies two grains of the powdered leaves of ftramonium were prefcribed ; thefe were to be taken every evening and morning. The medicine occafio- ned whitenefs of the tongue, fever, and a flight head ache. He took the ftramonium about two weeks, ra- pidly grew better in his reafon ; and was difcharged from the Hofpital as cured. Dr. Ruih confiders the occurrence of head-ache in maniacal cafes as a favo- rable fymptom, and I have feen it frequently occur in his patients at the Hofpital as foon as their derange- ment had mueh diminifhed or ceafed. Might not this ( 55 ) falutary fymptom in mania be accelerated, or induced in many cafes of this difeafe by the ufe of ftramonium? M. R. wild and melancholic having been deranged for fome months, took one grain of the powdered leaves of ftramonium morning and evening. Previ- oufly to taking the medicine he was bled and ptrgecl feveral times. The medicine feemed to make little or no irnprefiion on him, but upon increafing it gradu- ally to four grains, he became affeded with fever and pains in his limbs. He now became rational: But fuc- ceflive fuppurations occurred in the parts where the pains exifled. Openings were occafionally made into the colledions of pus : and at this time he appears to be on the recovery, and continues to be rational. To M. F. melancholic, a female patient, one grain of an extrad of the leaves was given night and morn- ing, which quantity was gradually increafed to three grains. She was delighted with the medicine, feem- ed to get better, and would anxioufly call for the pills when they were out. By fome means (he at length difcovered that they were made of what fhe called Jemefon weed, and refufed to take any more of them. Upon taking the medicine in increafed dofes fhe in- formed me, that fhe frequently faw fmall dark fpots in the air; and that fparkles of light fometimes feemed to proceed from her eyes. Dr. Archer within thefe few days informed Dr. Rufh that in a certain cafe in which he gave ftramonium double vifion was pro- duced. For J. B. laboring under melancholy madnefs, Dr. Wiftar laft fummer prefcribed ftramonium in dofes of half a grain, to be taken twice in the dav ; but the ( 5*5 ) medicine affeded her ftomach with fo much fickneis that it was difcontinued. It was given to feveial perfons in the cells of the Hofpital who had been deranged for many years; fome of thefe it feemed to relieve by exciting violent diarrhoea ; others again it feemed to injure. In thefe latter inftances fome advantages might perhaps have been derived from it, if its ufe had been premifed by bleeding and purging. IN TETANIC FEVER, Dr. Af.cher's letter informs me that he once mode- rated the-fymptoms of tetanus by giving ftramonium; and that Dr. Simmes formerly his ftudent, now liv- ing in Georgia, had fucceeded in the cure of a tetanus by ufing this medicine. Dr Archer adds, that he at- tributes his own late ill fuccefs in fome cafes of tetanus wherein he adrniniftered ftramonium to his not having preceded the remedy by evacuants. IN HYDROPIC AND PARALYTIC FEVERS. In one hydropic, and two paralytic cafes, in which our remedy w: