File:Dr. Hood's plain talks about the human system - the habits of men and women - the causes and prevention of disease - our sexual relations and social natures - embracing common sense medical adviser... (14776020062).jpg

Identifier: drhoodsplaintalk00hood (find matches)
Title: Dr. Hood's plain talks about the human system : the habits of men and women - the causes and prevention of disease - our sexual relations and social natures - embracing common sense medical adviser...
Year: 1902 (1900s)
Authors: Hood, G. Durant
Subjects:
Publisher: Chicago : Hood Medical Book Co.
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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and oppressive, as if to give warning of its venomousnature. Belladonna when taken in poisonousdoses produces dryness of the mouth,thirst, and difficulty of swallowing; theface becomes flushed, the eyes bright, thepupils dilated, and the sight dim and hazy.Very frequently the whole body is coveredwith a bright red rash, resembling scarletfever, and it is even sometimes followedby peeling of the skin. The mind andsenses become peculiarly affected, and aform of madness is produced. The ideasbecome incoherent and extravagant, andthere is often decided delirium, withpleasing illusions. Sometimes the unfor-tunate patient is possessed with constantrestlessness, keeps continually moving,and cannot be quieted. The deliriummay be furious and dangerous, and occa-sionally under the influence of this drugpeople have become so unmanageable thatthey have had to be confined in a mad-house. It has been supposed that it isto the madness produced by belladonna that Banquo refers when lie asks Macbeth-
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Fig. 4.—BELLADONNA. Or have we eaten of the insane root ,That takes the reason prisoner ? This may or may not be, but there is no doubt that the poisonous properties ofthe plant have been long known, for Buchanan, the Scottish historian, states thatthe Danes were treacherously defeated by the troops of Macbeath, who during atruce sent Sweno bread and a mixture of wine and ale containing poison, whichfrom the description of the symptoms produced can have been none other than ourbelladonna. During the Parthian war the troops of Mark Antony were greatly distressed forprovisions, and belladonna is probably the plant referred to by Plutarch in thefollowing passage:— BELLADONNA. 761 Those who sought for herbs and pot-herbs obtained few that they had beenaccustomed to eat, and in tasting unknown herbs they found one which brought onmadness and death. He that had eaten of it immediately lost all memory andknowledge ; but at the same time would busy himself in turning and moving everystone

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