Treatment.—The treatment of poisoning with hyoscyamus consists in removing the poison, diminishing cerebral congestion, and restoring sensibility. It is therefore substantially the same as in poisoning with opium, except that general or local evacuation of blood is more frequently required, in consequence of the greater tendency of hyoscyamus to induce determination of blood towards the head and congestion there. It has been lately alleged by an Italian author that a large dose of lemon-juice is an immediate antidote for the effects of too large a medicinal dose, even when the poison was administered in the form of injection.[[1828]] This does not seem probable.
Of Poisoning with Lactuca.
Allied in its effects, but greatly inferior in power to opium and hyoscyamus, is the Lactuca virosa, together with the Lettuce-opium, or inspissated juice of L. sativa, and L. virosa.
Orfila found that three drachms of the extract of L. virosa introduced into the stomach of a dog killed it in two days, without causing any remarkable symptom; that two drachms applied to a wound in the back induced giddiness, slight sopor, and death in three days; and that thirty-six grains injected in a state of solution into the jugular vein caused dulness, weakness, slight convulsions, and death in eighteen minutes.[[1829]] This poison, therefore, like other narcotics, acts through absorption. But it is far from being energetic. The extract is very uncertain in strength,—as may indeed be inferred from the variable nature of the processes by which it is prepared.
Lactucarium, the inspissated juice, especially that obtained from L. virosa, is obviously a more active preparation than the extract. Doses of no great magnitude kill small animals. But there is a want of good observations on its effects and energy as a poison.
Of Poisoning with Solanum.
Different species of solanum, a genus of the same natural order with the hyoscyamus, have been considered by Orfila to possess the same properties, though in a much feebler degree. The S. dulcamara or bittersweet has been erroneously believed by some to possess distinct narcotic properties.[[1830]] M. Dunal found that a dog might take 180 of the berries or four ounces of the extract without any inconvenience, and quotes an experiment on the human subject where thirty-two drachms of extract were taken in two doses also without injury.[[1831]] If it has any power at all, therefore, it must possess too little to be entitled to the name of a poison. Chevallier says he knew an instance of a druggist’s apprentice being attacked with deep somnolency for ten hours after carrying a large bundle of it on his head;[[1832]] but some other cause may be justly suspected to have here been in operation. The S. nigrum or common nightshade has been made the subject of experiment by Orfila, who found its extract to possess nearly the power and energy of lettuce-opium.[[1833]] The following seems a genuine case of poisoning with the berries of this species. Three children near Nantes in France were seized with severe headache, giddiness, colic, nausea, and vomiting. One of them then had excessive dilatation of the pupils, sweating and urgent thirst; loss of voice, stertorous breathing, and tetanic spasms ensued; and in twelve hours he died. Another had swelling of the face, alternate contraction and dilatation of the pupils, repeated vomiting, and eventually coma; but he recovered. The third was similarly, but more slightly affected, and also recovered. The children who recovered pointed out the berries they had eaten; which were found to be those of S. nigrum.[[1834]] The S. fuscatum is rather more active, fifteen berries having caused hurried breathing and vomiting.[[1835]] The S. mammosum is also probably an active species, the capsule of the berries having been known to excite vomiting, giddiness, and confusion of mind.[[1836]] In the S. nigrum and dulcamara, M. Desfosses discovered in 1821 a peculiar alkaloid, which induces somnolency in animals, but is not a very active poison.[[1837]]
It has been supposed by some that the tubers of Solanum tuberosum, the common potato, may acquire in certain circumstances poisonous qualities of no mean energy. Dr. Kabler of Prague has described the cases of four individuals in a family who were seized with alarming narcotic symptoms after eating potatoes which had begun to germinate and shrivel. The father of the family, who had eaten least of them all, appeared as if tipsy, and soon became insensible. The mother and two children became comatose and convulsed. All had vomited before becoming insensible. They recovered under the use of ether, frictions, and coffee; and in two hours were out of danger.[[1838]]
An alkaloid has been indicated by several chemists in various species of solanum. The most recent account, that of Otto, represents it to be a pearly, white, pulverulent substance, alkaline in reaction, and capable of uniting with acids. One grain of sulphate of solania killed a rabbit in six hours, and three grains a stronger rabbit in nine hours,—the symptoms being those of narcotic poisoning.[[1839]]
Violent effects have often been assigned to the genus Solanum, in consequence of its similarity to a powerful poison, the Atropa belladonna; which indeed is described by the older authors under the name of Solanum furiosum. It will be noticed among the Narcotico-acrid Poisons.