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  • Now- what's the best choice in imaging systems? : Molecular Dynamics.
  • Now- what's the best choice in imaging systems? : Molecular Dynamics.
  • Solanum atropurpureum Schrank Solanaceae. Purple Devil. Purple-spined Nightshade. Herbaceous perennial. Distribution: Brazil. This ferociously spined plant contains tropane alkaloids, atropine, hyoscyamine and scopolamine. All are anticholinergic and block the acetylcholine mediated actions of the parasympathetic nervous system. While the alkaloids are used in medicine and as an antidote to anticholinergic nerve gas poisons, the plant itself is not used in medicine. Its sharp spines can be irritant. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • Rudbeckia triloba L. Asteraceae Orange Cone flower. Herbaceous perennial. Distribution: North America. It is named for Olof Rudbeck, father (1630–1702) and son (1660–1740). Olof Rudbeck the Elder was professor of medicine at Uppsala University, and established a botanic garden there. He was the discoverer of the human lymphatic system. His son succeeded his father as professor of medicine, and one of his students was Carl Linnaeus (1707–88) who named the genus Rudbeckia after him and his father. It is a plant which is poisonous to cattle, sheep and pigs with no medicinal uses. Austin (1974) discusses R. hirta, also regarded as a toxic plant. It was used externally by the Cherokee to bathe sores and snakebites and made into a tea for treating diarrhoea. The Seminoles used it for headaches and fever and the Miccosukee for sunstroke and headache. The Cherokee and the Iroquois used it to treat intestinal worms Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • Anthropologia nova, or, a new system of anatomy. Describing the animal oeconomy, and a short rationale of many distempers incident to human bodies : in which are inserted divers anatomical discoveries, and medicinal observations, with the history of the parts illustrated with above fourscore figures, drawn after the life and to every chapter a syllabus of the parts describ'd, for the instruction of young anatomists / by James Drake ... [Appendix].
  • Anthropologia nova, or, a new system of anatomy. Describing the animal oeconomy, and a short rationale of many distempers incident to human bodies : in which are inserted divers anatomical discoveries, and medicinal observations, with the history of the parts illustrated with above fourscore figures, drawn after the life and to every chapter a syllabus of the parts describ'd, for the instruction of young anatomists / by James Drake ... [Appendix].
  • Anthropologia nova, or, a new system of anatomy. Describing the animal oeconomy, and a short rationale of many distempers incident to human bodies : in which are inserted divers anatomical discoveries, and medicinal observations, with the history of the parts illustrated with above fourscore figures, drawn after the life and to every chapter a syllabus of the parts describ'd, for the instruction of young anatomists / by James Drake ... [Appendix].
  • Anthropologia nova, or, a new system of anatomy. Describing the animal oeconomy, and a short rationale of many distempers incident to human bodies : in which are inserted divers anatomical discoveries, and medicinal observations, with the history of the parts illustrated with above fourscore figures, drawn after the life and to every chapter a syllabus of the parts describ'd, for the instruction of young anatomists / by James Drake ... [Appendix].
  • Anthropologia nova, or, a new system of anatomy. Describing the animal oeconomy, and a short rationale of many distempers incident to human bodies : in which are inserted divers anatomical discoveries, and medicinal observations, with the history of the parts illustrated with above fourscore figures, drawn after the life and to every chapter a syllabus of the parts describ'd, for the instruction of young anatomists / by James Drake ... [Appendix].
  • Anthropologia nova, or, a new system of anatomy. Describing the animal oeconomy, and a short rationale of many distempers incident to human bodies : in which are inserted divers anatomical discoveries, and medicinal observations, with the history of the parts illustrated with above fourscore figures, drawn after the life and to every chapter a syllabus of the parts describ'd, for the instruction of young anatomists / by James Drake ... [Appendix].
  • Anthropologia nova, or, a new system of anatomy. Describing the animal oeconomy, and a short rationale of many distempers incident to human bodies : in which are inserted divers anatomical discoveries, and medicinal observations, with the history of the parts illustrated with above fourscore figures, drawn after the life and to every chapter a syllabus of the parts describ'd, for the instruction of young anatomists / by James Drake ... [Appendix].
  • Anthropologia nova, or, a new system of anatomy. Describing the animal oeconomy, and a short rationale of many distempers incident to human bodies : in which are inserted divers anatomical discoveries, and medicinal observations, with the history of the parts illustrated with above fourscore figures, drawn after the life and to every chapter a syllabus of the parts describ'd, for the instruction of young anatomists / by James Drake ... [Appendix].
  • Anthropologia nova, or, a new system of anatomy. Describing the animal oeconomy, and a short rationale of many distempers incident to human bodies : in which are inserted divers anatomical discoveries, and medicinal observations, with the history of the parts illustrated with above fourscore figures, drawn after the life and to every chapter a syllabus of the parts describ'd, for the instruction of young anatomists / by James Drake ... [Appendix].
  • Anthropologia nova, or, a new system of anatomy. Describing the animal oeconomy, and a short rationale of many distempers incident to human bodies : in which are inserted divers anatomical discoveries, and medicinal observations, with the history of the parts illustrated with above fourscore figures, drawn after the life and to every chapter a syllabus of the parts describ'd, for the instruction of young anatomists / by James Drake ... [Appendix].
  • Anthropologia nova, or, a new system of anatomy. Describing the animal oeconomy, and a short rationale of many distempers incident to human bodies : in which are inserted divers anatomical discoveries, and medicinal observations, with the history of the parts illustrated with above fourscore figures, drawn after the life and to every chapter a syllabus of the parts describ'd, for the instruction of young anatomists / by James Drake ... [Appendix].
  • Anthropologia nova, or, a new system of anatomy. Describing the animal oeconomy, and a short rationale of many distempers incident to human bodies : in which are inserted divers anatomical discoveries, and medicinal observations, with the history of the parts illustrated with above fourscore figures, drawn after the life and to every chapter a syllabus of the parts describ'd, for the instruction of young anatomists / by James Drake ... [Appendix].
  • Anthropologia nova, or, a new system of anatomy. Describing the animal oeconomy, and a short rationale of many distempers incident to human bodies : in which are inserted divers anatomical discoveries, and medicinal observations, with the history of the parts illustrated with above fourscore figures, drawn after the life and to every chapter a syllabus of the parts describ'd, for the instruction of young anatomists / by James Drake ... [Appendix].
  • Anthropologia nova, or, a new system of anatomy. Describing the animal oeconomy, and a short rationale of many distempers incident to human bodies : in which are inserted divers anatomical discoveries, and medicinal observations, with the history of the parts illustrated with above fourscore figures, drawn after the life and to every chapter a syllabus of the parts describ'd, for the instruction of young anatomists / by James Drake ... [Appendix].
  • Anthropologia nova, or, a new system of anatomy. Describing the animal oeconomy, and a short rationale of many distempers incident to human bodies : in which are inserted divers anatomical discoveries, and medicinal observations, with the history of the parts illustrated with above fourscore figures, drawn after the life and to every chapter a syllabus of the parts describ'd, for the instruction of young anatomists / by James Drake ... [Appendix].
  • Anthropologia nova, or, a new system of anatomy. Describing the animal oeconomy, and a short rationale of many distempers incident to human bodies : in which are inserted divers anatomical discoveries, and medicinal observations, with the history of the parts illustrated with above fourscore figures, drawn after the life and to every chapter a syllabus of the parts describ'd, for the instruction of young anatomists / by James Drake ... [Appendix].
  • Anthropologia nova, or, a new system of anatomy. Describing the animal oeconomy, and a short rationale of many distempers incident to human bodies : in which are inserted divers anatomical discoveries, and medicinal observations, with the history of the parts illustrated with above fourscore figures, drawn after the life and to every chapter a syllabus of the parts describ'd, for the instruction of young anatomists / by James Drake ... [Appendix].
  • Anthropologia nova, or, a new system of anatomy. Describing the animal oeconomy, and a short rationale of many distempers incident to human bodies : in which are inserted divers anatomical discoveries, and medicinal observations, with the history of the parts illustrated with above fourscore figures, drawn after the life and to every chapter a syllabus of the parts describ'd, for the instruction of young anatomists / by James Drake ... [Appendix].
  • Anthropologia nova, or, a new system of anatomy. Describing the animal oeconomy, and a short rationale of many distempers incident to human bodies : in which are inserted divers anatomical discoveries, and medicinal observations, with the history of the parts illustrated with above fourscore figures, drawn after the life and to every chapter a syllabus of the parts describ'd, for the instruction of young anatomists / by James Drake ... [Appendix].
  • Anthropologia nova, or, a new system of anatomy. Describing the animal oeconomy, and a short rationale of many distempers incident to human bodies : in which are inserted divers anatomical discoveries, and medicinal observations, with the history of the parts illustrated with above fourscore figures, drawn after the life and to every chapter a syllabus of the parts describ'd, for the instruction of young anatomists / by James Drake ... [Appendix].
  • Anthropologia nova, or, a new system of anatomy. Describing the animal oeconomy, and a short rationale of many distempers incident to human bodies : in which are inserted divers anatomical discoveries, and medicinal observations, with the history of the parts illustrated with above fourscore figures, drawn after the life and to every chapter a syllabus of the parts describ'd, for the instruction of young anatomists / by James Drake ... [Appendix].
  • Anthropologia nova, or, a new system of anatomy. Describing the animal oeconomy, and a short rationale of many distempers incident to human bodies : in which are inserted divers anatomical discoveries, and medicinal observations, with the history of the parts illustrated with above fourscore figures, drawn after the life and to every chapter a syllabus of the parts describ'd, for the instruction of young anatomists / by James Drake ... [Appendix].
  • Anthropologia nova, or, a new system of anatomy. Describing the animal oeconomy, and a short rationale of many distempers incident to human bodies : in which are inserted divers anatomical discoveries, and medicinal observations, with the history of the parts illustrated with above fourscore figures, drawn after the life and to every chapter a syllabus of the parts describ'd, for the instruction of young anatomists / by James Drake ... [Appendix].
  • Anthropologia nova, or, a new system of anatomy. Describing the animal oeconomy, and a short rationale of many distempers incident to human bodies : in which are inserted divers anatomical discoveries, and medicinal observations, with the history of the parts illustrated with above fourscore figures, drawn after the life and to every chapter a syllabus of the parts describ'd, for the instruction of young anatomists / by James Drake ... [Appendix].
  • Valeriana officinalis L. Valerianaceae Valerianus, Phu, Nardus sylvestris, Setwal. Distribution: Europe. Popular herbalism attributes sedation to Valerian, but this is not mentioned by Coles (1657) or Gerard (1633) or Lobel (1576) or Lyte (1578) or Dioscorides (ex Gunther, 1959) or Fuchs (1553), where he quotes Pliny, Dioscorides and Galen, or Parkinson (1640), or Pomet (1712). The English translation of Tournefort (1719-1730) covers a whole page of the uses of all the different valerians, but never mentions sedation or treating anxiety. Quincy (1718) does not mention it. Because it was used in epilepsy, for which Woodville (1792) says it was useless, Haller, in his Historia stirpium indegenarum Helvetae inchoatae (1768) advocates it for those with irritability of the nervous system, as does Thomson's London Dispensatory (1811) although he lists it as an 'antispasmodic and stimulant' and for inducing menstruation. Lindley (1838) notes (as many did) that the roots smell terrible and that this makes cats excited, and in man, in large doses, induce 'scintillations, agitation and even convulsions' so used in asthenic fever, epilepsy, chorea, hysteria and as an antihelminthic.' Fluckiger & Hanbury (1879) give a wonderful account of the history of its names, but give its use as 'stimulant and antispasmodic' as do Barton & Castle (1877). but by 1936 (Martindale's Extra Pharmacopoeia) its only use was 'Given in hysterical and neurotic conditions as a sedative. Its action has been attributed to its unpleasant smell'. The European Medicines Agency (2006) approves its use as a traditional herbal medicine for mild anxiety and sleeplessness for up to 4 weeks. Despite what is written continuously about its use in ancient Greece and Rome, the only reason for its use has been because it was thought, for a brief while, to be good for epilepsy and therefore might deal with persons of a nervous disposition because of its foul smell. It has been suggested that even its Greek name, 'Phu' came from the expression of disgust which is made when one sniffs an unpleasant odour. For 1,800 years, before the last century, no-one had thought it sedative. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • Atropa belladonna L. Solanaceae. Deadly nightshade. Dwale. Morella, Solatrum, Hound's berries, Uva lupina, Cucubalus, Solanum lethale. Atropa derives from Atropos the oldest of the three Fates of Greek mythology who cut the thread of Life (her sisters Clotho and Lachesis spun and measured the thread, respectively). belladonna, literally, means 'beautiful lady' and was the Italian name for it. Folklore has it that Italian ladies put drops from the plant or the fruits in their eyes to make themselves doe-eyed, myopic and beautiful. However, this is not supported by the 16th and 17th century literature, where no mention is ever made of dilated pupils (or any of the effects of parasympathetic blockade). Tournefort (1719) says 'The Italians named this plant Belladonna, which in their language signifies a beautiful woman, because the ladies use it much in the composition of their Fucus [rouge or deceit or cosmetic] or face paint.' Parkinson says that the Italian ladies use the distilled juice as a fucus '... peradventure [perhaps] to take away their high colour and make them looke paler.' I think it more likely that they absorbed atropine through their skin and were slightly 'stoned' and disinhibited, which made them beautiful ladies in the eyes of Italian males. Distribution: Europe, North Africa, western Asia. Culpeper (1650) writes: 'Solanum. Nightshade: very cold and dry, binding … dangerous given inwardly … outwardly it helps the shingles, St Antonie's Fire [erysipelas] and other hot inflammation.' Most of the 16th, 17th and 18th century herbals recommend it topically for breast cancers. Poisonous plants were regarded as 'cold' plants as an excess of them caused death and the body became cold. They were regarded as opposing the hot humour which kept us warm and alive. Poultices of Belladonna leaves are still recommended for muscle strain in cyclists, by herbalists. Gerard (1633) writes that it: 'causeth sleep, troubleth the mind, bringeth madnesse if a few of the berries be inwardly taken, but if more be taken they also kill...'. He was also aware that the alkaloids could be absorbed through the skin for he notes that a poultice of the leaves applied to the forehead, induces sleep, and relieves headache. The whole plant contains the anticholinergic alkaloid atropine, which blocks the peripheral actions of acetylcholine in the parasympathetic nervous system. Atropine is a racemic mixture of d- and l- hyoscyamine. Atropine, dropped into the eyes, blocks the acetylcholine receptors of the pupil so it no longer constricts on exposure to bright light - so enabling an ophthalmologist to examine the retina with an ophthalmoscope. Atropine speeds up the heart rate, reduces salivation and sweating, reduces gut motility, inhibits the vertigo of sea sickness, and is used to block the acetylcholine receptors to prevent the effects of organophosphorous and other nerve gas poisons. It is still has important uses in medicine. Atropine poisoning takes three or for days to wear off, and the hallucinations experienced by its use are described as unpleasant. We have to be content with 'madness', 'frenzie' and 'idle and vain imaginations' in the early herbals to describe the hallucinations of atropine and related alkaloids as the word 'hallucination' in the sense of a perception for which there is no external stimulus, was not used in English until 1646 (Sir T. Browne, 1646). It is a restricted herbal medicine which can only be sold in premises which are registered pharmacies and by or under the supervision of a pharmacist (UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)). Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.