Belladonna

(bel-ah-don' -ah). Deadly Night-shade. A perennial plant of the order Solanacece, indigenous to Southern Europe and Asia, and cultivated in the U. S. Its properties are due to two alkaloids, atropin and belladonnin, the latter thought to be identical with hyoscyamin. Both leaves and root are employed. It is a mild narcotic and anodyne and a powerful mydriatic; also an antispasmodic, and in small doses a cardiac, respiratory and spinal stimulant. It is valuable in the inflammation of rheumatism, in gout, and in neuralgia. Dose of the root and leaves gr. j. B., Folia, the leaves of belladonna. B., Radix, the root of belladonna. The preparations of the leaves are: B., Extractum Alcohol i cum. Dose gr. A-&- B., Tinct., 15 per cent. Dose n. B., Unguent., contains extract 10, dilute alcohol 6, benzoated lard 84 parts. From the root are prepared: B., Abstractum. Dose gr. B., Emplastrum, alcoholic ext. of leaves 20, resin-plaster 40, soap-plaster, 40. B., Extractum Fluidum. Dose B., Lin i mentum, fluid extract 95, camphor 5. B., Succus (B. P.). Dose B., Japanese. See Scopolia . Atropin sulphate, an excellent antidote in opium-poisoning. Lamellae atropinae (B. P.), each containing of atropin grain. Liq. atropinae sulph at is (B. P.). Dose Unguentum atropinae (B. P.), grs. viij to the ounce. See Atropin . Dose gr. Hom atropin. See Atropin .