An introduction to the study of materia medica : being a short account of the more important crude drugs of vegetable and animal origin designed for students of pharmacy and medicine / by Henry G. Greenish.

  • Greenish, Henry G. (Henry George), 1855-1933.
Date:
1899
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An introduction to the study of materia medica : being a short account of the more important crude drugs of vegetable and animal origin designed for students of pharmacy and medicine / by Henry G. Greenish. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    182/560 (page 154)
    subsequently showed that these seeds contain as principal alkaloid hyos^cijamine, associated with which is a small propor- tion of atropine and scopolamine, the alkaloids amounting in all to about 0-4 per cent. In addition, the seeds contain about 25 per cent, of fixed oil. Hyoscyamine is easily converted into atropine during the process of extraction, thus giving rise to the statement that the seeds contained atropine as principal constituent. Uses.—Stramonium appears to differ slightly in its effect from belladonna; its use is almost confined to spasmodic affections of the respiratory organs, such as bronchitis and asthma. The leaves are also smoked as cigarettes during the paroxysm. HENBANE SEEDS (Semina Hyoscyami) Source &C.—The henbane plant, Hjjoscyanms niger, Linn. (N.O. Solanacece), has been already alluded to (p. 31). The fruit of the plant is a small two-celled capsule, which dehisces transversely, the upper part separating from the lower like the lid of a box (pyxis). Within the fruit is a large number of minute seeds; these, separated when ripe, form the commercial drug. Description. —Henbane seeds are of a dark grey colour and very small size, averaging barely inch in length. In shape they are flattened and obscurely reniform, being slightly pointed at one extremity (the hilum). Under a strong lens the surface, which appears dull to the naked eye, is seen to be minutely, regularly, and deeply reticulate, the reticulations being smaller near the hilum. Cut longitu- dinally, parallel to the flat surface, they exhibit a coiled embryo embedded in an oily endosperm. Fifi. 72.—Henbane seed. A, en- tire fruit, showing dehiscence. B, the same, cut vertically. C, seed, magnified 7 diam. n, the same, cut longitudinally. (Luerssen.)