BELLADONNAE FOLIA—BELLADONNA LEAVES
Origin.—Belladonna is the leaves of a plant known as deadly nightshade. It grows wild in some parts of Great Britain, and is also cultivated to a great extent. The dried leaves of atropa belladonna yield, when assayed by the U. S. P. process, not less than 0.35 per cent of mydriatic alkaloids. Usually of a dull brownish-green color, the leaves much wrinkled and matted together, frequently with the flowering tops intermixed; odor distinctly narcotic, especially on moistening; taste somewhat bitter and acrid. Contains not less than 0.5 per cent atropine. The powdered leaves are characterized by few hairs and numerous small arrow-shaped crystals of calcium oxalate.
Dose.—Of the powdered leaves, horses and cattle, 1⁄2 to 1 oz.; sheep and pigs, 1⁄2 to 2 dr.; dogs, 1 to 5 grs.