Bella-donna frutescens rotundifolia Hispanica. Tourn. Inst. 77.
Solanum frutex rotundifolium Hispanicum. Barril. Obs. 2. Icon. 1173.
_Round-leaved shrubby Spanish Bella-donna._
3. Atropa foliis sinuato-angulatis, calycibus clausis acutangulis.
Spec. Plant. 181.
Bella-donna flore magno violaceo. Hill. Herb. Brit. 319.
Alkekengi amplo fiore violaceo. Few. Per. 724. tab. 16.
_Large violet-flower’d Bella-donna, or Deadly Nightshade._
The first of the species here enumerated is the plant in question. The
second has been found growing naturally in no other country than Spain.
The third was first discovered by Father Feuillée in Peru, and is
therefore only an inhabitant of the gardens in this part of the world.
_The_ +DESCRIPTION+.
The root is perennial. It is pretty long, and divided into many
branches of a brown colour, succulent, and of a disagreeable smell. The
radical leaves are frequently a foot long, and five inches broad, of an
oval acuminated figure, and not sinuated on the edges. The stalk rises
to three or four feet: it is much divaricated and branched. The cauline
leaves stand alternately upon it, in shape like the radical, of a
dusky-green colour on the upper part, and a paler green underneath,
being a little hairy on both sides. The flowers stand on single
footstalks, in the alæ of the leaves: they are large, of a campanulated
figure, and striated, of a dusky-purple colour within, with a yellow
variegated base; the outer surface of the flower is of a greenish red.
After the flower succeeds a fine beautiful large berry, which is black
when ripe. For the rest, take in the generical character.
Most of the old authors give us figures of this plant, which, tho’ they
convey a general idea of it, are yet scarce any of them exact. This
fault in general runs thro’ all, that I have had an opportunity of
examining; namely, that the flowers and fruit are represented by much
too large in proportion to the leaves. Morison’s is perhaps one of the
best among the old figures: it is, upon the whole, tolerable, but not
accurate on account of the before-mentioned objection. Petiver’s does
by no means represent the plant justly, in that the alæ of the leaves
are not properly filled up. The most accurate figure of all, that I
have seen, is Mr. Miller’s, in his plates adapted to the Gardeners
Dictionary, which is undoubtedly taken from nature itself.
+PLACE+ _of_ +GROWTH+.
The Deadly Nightshade is found in many parts of Europe, especially in
England and in Austria; and yet in our own country it is happily not
very plentiful, inasmuch as our botanical writers usually reckon it
among the _more rare_ plants, and specify particularly the places where
they have observed it.
Here in England it is chiefly found in uncultivated places: in
church-yards, about old walls, among rubbish in shady places, about
dunghills, in lanes, and sometimes about woods and hedges. It begins to
flower in June, and maintains a succession of flowers for two months.
The berries are ripe in September and October.
It is of great importance, that the knowlege of poisonous plants
should be extended as much as possible, that they may the better be
avoided, and their fatal effects thro’ mistake be guarded against:
there can therefore be no impropriety in enumerating particularly
some of those places, where our English botanists have observed it.
Mr. Ray mentions its being found in the church-yard and lanes about
Fulburn in Cambridgeshire, Sutton-Colefield in Warwickshire: in
the Downs: at Cuckstone, near Rochester in Kent, all the yards and
backsides are over-run with it. _Ray. Syn._ Upon Clifton-hill, near
Nottingham; also in a quarry near the cold-bath at Mansfield. _Catal.
Notting_. In Currenwood-kins, near Burton in Kendal, and other places
in Westmorland. _Wilson’s Syn._ Dr. Wilmer found it amoung the bogs
going down to Dorking in Surrey, plentifully. In Preston church-yard,
near Feversham in Kent. Mr. Watson found it by the wood-side, under
the park-wall, between Temsford-mills and Welwyn, Hertfordshire; and
near the road between Rochester and Maidstone. Mr. Blackstone found it
in a shady gravel-pit near the old park-wood at Harefield, and in the
gardens at More-park near Rickmansworth, plentifully. _Specim. Botan._
About Rochester and Chatham, where it grows in the joints of old
walls, and in most of the unfrequented lanes: also in Woodstock-park
in Oxforshire, and Up-park in Hampshire. I have observed it four or
five years since on the edge of Charley-forest: about Grace-Dieu,
Leicestershire. It grows about North Luffenham in Rutland.
_Its_ +POISONOUS QUALITY+.
There have been many fatal instances of the narcotic and deleterious
effects of the berries of this plant. They are upon record in almost
all botanical, and many medical authors. Children have unhappily been
the principal sufferers this way, being tempted to eat by the enticing
aspect of the berries, or by mistaking them for some other fruit. The
berries, however, are not the only part of the plant, which partake of
this intoxicating and poisonous property: the whole plant is endued
with it, and that in no small degree.
If the Bella-donna is allowed to be the Στρύχνος μανικὸς of
Dioscorides[9], this quality of it was not unknown to that writer. It
was very soon known to the first writers in the medical and botanic way
after the restoration of letters; and they have not failed to inform us
of it.
Tragus and Fuchsius, who wrote about the middle of the sixteenth
century, both relate instances of the poisonous effects of these
berries: the former, of a man, who went mad after having eaten of them;
the latter, of two children, who perished by the same means[10].
Lobel[11] tells us, that the berries of this plant are present
death; and informs us of some youths, who, after eating them, became
stupified, and died as from an over-dose of opium.
Matthiolus[12] relates, from his own knowlege, of some children
poisoned by the same means.
Among all the instances of the intoxicating nature of this plant, there
is none more memorable than that mentioned by the Scotch historian
Buchanan[13], of the destruction of the army of Sweno; which is quoted
by almost all authors, who have wrote upon this plant. It is there
said, that the Scots mixed a quantity of the juice of these berries
with the drink, which, by their truce, they were to supply the Danes
with; which so intoxicated them, that the Scots killed the greatest
part of them while they were asleep. How far this anecdote is to be
depended upon, or whether other concurrent circumstances ought not to
be taken into the account, I cannot determine.
Our own herbalist Gerard[14] mentions the case of three boys in the
Isle of Ely, who, having eaten of these berries, two of them died in
less than eight hours; but the third, by drinking plentifully of honey
and water, and vomiting after it, recovered.
Bodæus à Stapel, in his comment upon Theophrastus[15], tells us of two
youths, that eat two or three of these berries, which they got in the
Leyden garden, mistaking them for black currants: one of them perished,
and the other recovered with great difficulty.
Simon Pauli relates two or three examples to the same effect[16].
Wepfer gives us a circumstantial account of a child about ten years
old, who was thrown into a great variety of convulsive symptoms after
eating of this fruit: but proper care being taken by vomiting, and
afterwards giving alexipharmics and anti-epileptic medicines, he
recovered[17].
M. Boulduc[18] laid before the Royal Academy of Sciences at Paris, the
case of some children, who, upon eating these berries, were seized with
a violent fever, palpitations of the heart, convulsions, and lost their
senses. One of them, a little boy of four years old, died the next
morning.
Boerhaave has instances to the same effect[19]: and it was the
misfortune of Dr. Abraham Munting, a noted botanist and professor
of physic in the university of Groningen, to have his own daughter
poisoned with the berries of the Bella-donna.
It would be almost endless to recite all the instances to be met with
upon this head. The German Ephemerides, the Commercium Literarium, and
other periodical works, furnish us with farther proofs of the deadly
quality of the Bella-donna; and they are unhappily corroborated by
more recent instances in modern authors. The Gentleman’s Magazine[20],
Mr. Miller in his Gardeners Dictionary, and Dr. Hill in his British
Herbal[21], exhibit to us several melancholy cases of this kind.
The effects of this plant have been so extraordinary, that several
distinct treatises have been published professedly upon it. The most
remarkable of these is that of J.M. Faber’s, printed at Augsburg in
1677, under the following title; _Strychnomania explicans Strychni
manici antiquorum, vel Solani furiosi recentiorum historiam_. In this
tract the author has collected a number of cases from various hands,
concerning the poisonous quality of the plant in question. In the year
1714. C. Sicelius published a treatise upon this plant, under the title
of _Diatribe de Bella-donna. Jenæ_. 8vo.
+MEDICAL HISTORY+.
Who it was, that was bold enough to venture first upon the internal
use of this plant as a medicine, I cannot say; chance very probably
led to it, as in many other cases. In the mean time, there is reason
to believe, that it is not altogether a modern practice. One would be
led to think, by the accounts given us in Matthiolus and Bodæus, that
in their days its operation was very well known; and that they knew how
to dose it very exactly, since they give us an account of tricks being
played with it, by infusing the quantity of a scruple of the root in
wine, and intoxicating people therewith. The former of these authors
relates, that the distilled water from this plant, in a dose of about
two or three spoonfuls, was exhibited by some people in inflammations
of the viscera; and, he observes, with good success. Parkinson seems to
have transcribed this account, respecting this use of it; but neither
of them speak of it from their own knowlege. It may be questioned,
however, whether this could act otherwise than as mere water; since the
principles with which this plant is endued, do not seem capable (if one
may judge from its sensible qualities and effects upon those who have
taken it) of rising in a still.
Mr. Ray[22], from the German Ephemerides, an. 13. obs. 64. presents
us with the relation of a shepherd in Denmark, who administered an
infusion of the berries in wine in the dysentery, which was there very
common, and very obstinate; adding, that it was attended with great
success, not only restraining the flux, but carrying off the disorder
by sweat. Mr. Ray observes further, that, correspondent with this
practice, Conrade Gesner actually prepared a syrop from the berries,
and gave it in dysenteric cases with great success. This account is
found in Gesner’s Epistles, and is quoted also by Dr. Haller[23], when
treating of this plant. Possibly its efficacy in these cases may be
accounted for, from considering it merely in the quality of an opiate;
and therefore it cannot be adviseable to use it, when safer medicines
are always at hand.
Its external use seems to be of as long a date as its internal; and
it was on account of its cooling and repellent quality, that it came
into credit as a fucus among the Italian ladies. Matthiolus recommends
it in the erysipelas, the shingles, and other inflammatory disorders
of the skin. The leaves, applied in the form of a cataplasm, are much
celebrated by many writers, as of great use in resolving tumors,
particularly of the breast, and even such as are of a schirrous and
cancerous nature. Many of the old authors[24] mention this application
of it, among other of the cooling and narcotic herbs; such as the
common nightshade, henbane, hounds-tongue, _&c._ which it was usual
to apply on such occasions. Mr. Ray informs us, that Mr. Percival
Willughby experienced its efficacy repeatedly, in discussing hardnesses
and cancerous tumors in the breast.
Its relaxing quality is very surprising, as appears by that memorable
case related by the last-mentioned author, of a lady’s applying a leaf
of it to a little ulcer, suspected to be of the cancerous kind, a
little below her eye, which rendered the pupil so paralytic, that it
lost all its motion for some time afterwards: and that this event was
really owing to that application, appears from the experiment’s being
repeated with the same effect three times.
The German physicians have gone much further: they have even ventured
to give it inwardly in cancerous cases. Dr. Haller, when treating of
the quality of this plant, refers to Junker, and others of the modern
physicians, as recommending the decoction of it with caution, that it
be not given in such quantity as to cause sleep. So long since as the
year 1739. there was a thesis published at Hall, by Michael Albert, in
which the Bella-donna is proposed as a specific in cancerous cases.
What other physicians patronize this use of it, I cannot say, having
but little opportunity of consulting those academic pieces, which are
of such eminent use in compilations of this kind. Thus much is certain,
that its use, in such cases, rather gains ground; and the case,
published in the French Bibliotheque[25], printed at the Hague, of an
ulcerated cancer being radically cured by an infusion of the leaves of
this plant in water, deserves particular attention, on account of its
being so well attested. The case is extracted from an inaugural thesis
of Professor Lambergen’s, who was the physician concerned[26]. The
event was so singularly happy and successful in this instance, that we
hope it will need no apology, if we give a particular detail of it.
The person afflicted with this miserable disease was a widow of 34
years of age, and mother of four children. She had but weak nerves, and
had been subject to inflammatory disorders. She informed M. Lambergen,
upon examining her, that she had had a quinzy six times, which had
twice ended in suppuration: that eight years before her right breast
had suppurated, and discharged much matter: that two years after it
suppurated again; and that at the end of another year both breasts
underwent the same fate; since when the right had remained schirrous,
but was without pain, except when she handled it. She had suckled her
youngest child about six months, when she was seized with a fever; and
the left breast (with which only she could suckle since the other had
suppurated) soon swelled, inflamed greatly, was very painful, and soon
became almost as large as a child’s head. Dr. Lambergen being called
in, ordered copious bleeding, and that the child should suck as little
as possible. She took some medicines, and soon recovered.
A year passed after this without any bad accident; when the lunar
evacuations, which she had had from her 18th year, beginning to
diminish, she felt a pricking pain in her left breast, and her right
began to swell. Upon a fright, she had a fall, which accident increased
both the pain and swelling; and she had recourse again to Dr. Lambergen.
He found the tumors in her right breast much enlarged, and so connected
together, as to feel like one large one only. On the upper part of the
breast, upon the pectoral muscle, it felt rugged, unequal, and almost
as hard as a stone. The patient complained of a constant itching in
the part, and at times a pungent pain, which seemed to shoot from
the armpit, and end in the tumor. Under this armpit the glands were
hard and schirrous; and the left breast was not exempt from the like
indurations. A vein or two on the right breast was a little enlarged,
otherwise no alteration. It was no hotter than common; nor had it
undergone any change of colour. To mitigate the pain of the schirrous,
Dr. Lambergen ordered the following plaister:
℞ _Ung. Diapomphol._ ℥ ij. _Amalgam, merc. et Plumb._ ȝ iij.
_Sperm. Cet._ ȝ j. _M._
With this external application he prescribed likewise the following
powders, to be taken night and morning, and gave directions relating to
the non-naturals.
℞ _Coral. rub. Antimon. Diaphoret. illot. Sper. Ceti a_ ȝ ij.
_Laud. gr._ vj. _M._ for 12 doses.
Under this method the pain remitted, but the tumor inlarged, and a
little rising was observed on the upper part of it; and towards the
nipple, where there was the least hardness, a small spot was perceived,
which, at the next return of the catamenia, inflamed, and became the
seat of the most excruciating pain. Dr. Lambergen, during this period,
in the room of the powders, substituted emmenagogic pills, and ordered
the pediluvium. She lost ten ounces of blood from the foot: and by
these means the swelling of the breast diminished, and the patient
suffered very little for some days. This truce, however, was but
temporary: the rising on the upper part of the tumor began to inflame,
itched intolerably, the pain returned, was almost perpetual, and
insupportably pungent.
In this dreadful state was the patient, when Dr. Lambergen desired the
late Dr. du Bois, Dr. Winter, physician to the house of Orange and
professor at Leyden, together with Dr. Van Arum of Leewarden, physician
in ordinary to the Princess dowager, to visit her. These gentlemen
examined her many times, and unanimously agreed, that it was now no
less than a confirmed cancer. It was Professor Winter, who acquainted
Dr. Lambergen, that he had heard M. Degner, a celebrated physician
at Nimeguen, speak of the Bella-donna, as a sovereign remedy against
inveterate schirri; adding, nevertheless, that he had never tried it
himself.
In such a case as this, where death seemed inevitable, a dangerous
remedy is to be preferred to none at all. Dr. Lambergen therefore
determined to try it upon his patient; but, knowing the character,
which the plant bore, he resolved to try the effects of it upon himself
first. To this end, he poured ten tea-cups of water upon a scruple of
the leaves, which had been gathered and dried three years: he let it
stand all night lukewarm. Of this infusion he took half a tea-cup full,
being the twentieth part of the whole, in the morning fasting; but
perceived no effect from it. This determined him the next morning to
double the dose; which produced a slight vertigo, and for an hour or
two an uncommon dryness in his mouth. Being thus prepared, as he knew
his patient had but a weak nervous system, he determined to begin with
caution.
It was the 14th day of January 1745, that she took the first dose,
being one tea-cup full. It had the same effect upon her, as it had had
on her physician; and moreover rendered her pulse weaker and quicker
than usual. For seven mornings successively she took the same dose,
which, in general, produced the same effect. At the same time the
plaster was renewed, with the addition of a few grains of opium. Under
this method her pain was mitigated; but, before the latter end of the
week, returned again more frequently, and more acute; so that she was
reduced to a most deplorable condition. The rising on the upper part
of the breast became livid; the place near the nipple before-mentioned
inflamed, and was very painful; and two little pointed risings were
observed upon it, together with a slight fissure or opening. As the
menstrual period was approaching, the infusion and the powders were
omitted, and the pediluvium substituted. A mixture with crabs-eyes,
spᵗ. nitri. d. and syr. e mecon. relieved the patient from some
spasmodic complaints she had at this time, and the menses returned more
copiously than ever. The 27th she took something more than a tea-cup of
the infusion, being the first dose of the second scruple: her body was
soluble; her breast less swelled, but the pain returned very acute, and
seemed to terminate in the little callous eminence on the upper part of
the breast, which now likewise became more pointed. The 28th she took
the same quantity of the infusion. The two little pointed places near
the nipple were now become two little holes, but had not discharged any
matter. The other sore on the upper part of the breast was more livid
still, and more painful, and had risen into two little whitish points.
The powders were omitted this night, as they had been now and then at
other times. The 29th, very little sleep the foregoing night, great
pain from the upper sore, the holes near the nipple were become larger,
and had run a yellowish matter. The same dose of the infusion as
before. At night she had most acute pain from the upper sore. The 30th
both sores were nearly in the same state. All remedies were this day
laid aside, except the infusion; of which she took a cup-full and an
half; but her mouth soon became so dry, that she could scarcely swallow
a little tea; and the vertigo was so violent, that she staggered: her
sight was so weakened, that she could scarcely read. Notwithstanding
this, she had no anxiety, nor nausea, nor pain; but her appetite was
less, and her pulse quicker. The 31st all the last-mentioned symptoms
continued the same: the two pointed eminences on the upper part of the
breast were become two little holes likewise, and had discharged a few
drops of good matter.
The 1st of February the upper sore had discharged but little matter,
and that thinner than before. That near the nipple was become more
livid, and the two holes were larger; but there had been no discharge
for several days. The pulse and appetite were good, sleep natural, the
body open. The pain, indeed, was continual, but less acute. The 2d,
little alteration. The sores discharged but little. From this time
they were dressed twice in a day with _Nutritum_, and over all the
_Emp. Saturnin_. The pain was not so violent, but was felt in another
place, which began to swell. From the 6th to the 18th better and worse:
the pain more or less acute; and the catamenia passed without any bad
effects. At the end of this month the schirrus all over the breast was
much softened, and sensibly diminished. This was the opinion of Dr. du
Bois and Dr. Winter, as well as of Dr. Lambergen.
The 1st of March an inflammation arose on the sole of the right foot,
and extended up the leg about four fingers above the heel. It ended in
two great blisters, as if from a burn, which were embrocated with wine
and oil, and nothing bad followed. To the 22d, the patient was better
and worse. The menstrual period did not pass without some disturbance.
The 26th she began with the infusion of the tenth scruple, and every
thing went on for the better to the end of the month.
From the 1st of April to the 6th the ulcers were firm and dry; but the
pain in the breast increased. Several blisters arose on the foot, along
the leg, and even upon the thigh, on the left side. One upon the sole
of the left foot, for 24 hours discharged an incredible quantity of
thick whitish lymph. The pain from these blisters was beyond all she
had felt before. It continued the 7th, 8th, and 9th; and new blisters
arose on the thigh. The excoriated parts were all dressed with spirit
of wine. During the disturbances from these new complaints, the breast
was likewise painful, and swelled, tho’ the ulcer near the nipple was
dry, and the other discharged little or nothing. The 10th she had less
pain both in her foot and in her breast. The upper sore was closed;
the foot discharged less. From the 11th to the 15th, notwithstanding
the weather was very cold, her pain still lessened. The ulcer remained
firm, and the whole breast was softened: her foot mended; and all went
on for the better till the 18th, when the ulcer on the upper part
of the breast opened again in three places, and discharged a thick
yellowish matter. The nipple of the left breast also became inflamed,
and surrounded with pimples, which discharged a little lymph. In the
mean time the cancerous breast was more painful than on the preceding
days. The 19th the pain less, tho’ continual. Some discharge from
the foot still; but the ulcers on the thigh were healed, and another
blister arose. The 20th the upper sore on the breast closed again; but
that near the nipple seemed to threaten another opening, and in fact it
did, on the 24th, in three places. On the 20th the catamenia returned
very copiously, and superseded the use of the pediluvium. The 25th she
began with the infusion of the fourteenth scruple of the Bella-donna,
which, it is to be observed, was scarcely ever omitted. The 26th a
blister arose at the end of the fore-finger on the left hand, was very
painful, and discharged a great quantity of serous matter. The next
day both ulcers on the breast discharged a small quantity of lymph;
otherwise the breast was less painful.
From the 28th of April to the 7th of May every thing went on for the
better: the cancerous breast was almost without pain. The ulcers ran
very little, but the excoriation and pain were much worse from the
nipple of the left breast, which also discharged a great quantity of
lymph. The 8th the upper ulcer on the right breast closed; but the
other opened again. From the 8th to the 16th no change for the worse:
on the contrary, the left breast was well; the right less painful, and
discharged but very little. From the 18th to the 22d the menstrual
period: all things on the mending hand; the ulcer healed, and the
patient had little or no pain: but, from the 23d to the 27th, the pain
returned something worse, and there was some discharge from the breast.
The _Nutritum_ was now discontinued, as too emollient. The 27th the
infusion from the eighteenth scruple of the Bella-donna was begun with.
From the 28th of May to the 12th of June the breast still painful: in
the mean time, however, the ulcers remained firm and dry. The tumor and
schirrosity of the breast diminished in such a manner, that, excepting
its being a little bigger than the other, it had intirely resumed its
natural form and colour. No indurations in the left breast, nor of the
glands in the right armpit.
The 13th of June she took a journey, was absent some weeks, and
returned in perfect health. Dr. Lambergen advised her, but in vain,
to continue the infusion. Nevertheless, she was obliged now and then,
when she felt pain, to have recourse to it, and was always relieved by
it: and in the course of another year the remains of the schirrus were
totally wasted.
It is now (1754) eight years since, and she has had no relapse, no
pain, no hardness in her breast; has married a second husband, by whom
she has had a child, which she suckled. What more can be requisite to
ascertain a cure?
Thus we have given a detail of this memorable case; wherein we see,
that six drachms of one of the most poisonous vegetables that the
world produces actually cured a woman, whom the most able physicians
had given up as incurable; and who must otherwise have finished her
miserable days in the most deplorable sufferings.
It must not be omitted, that notwithstanding the daily use this woman
made of the Bella-donna, she was not accustomed to it in the manner as
people are who take opium. Dr. Lambergen always prepared the infusion
himself, and never had occasion to make it stronger than at the first,
as the patient always found the like effects from the same dose.
So singular and happy an event, as attended Dr. Lambergen’s
administration of this plant, certainly merits the attention of the
medical profession; and surely, one may add, entitles the medicine
to future trials. And as the authenticity of the case will not be
disputed, it is therefore greatly to be wished, that those gentlemen,
who belong to the public hospitals, and others that have frequent
opportunities of attending patients labouring under this deplorable
disease, would give it a further trial. A cancer, even in its latent,
but much more in an ulcerated state, is allowedly one of the most
terrible and formidable disorders to which human nature is liable; and
hath long been ranged, very justly, among the _opprobria medicorum_,
instances of a radical cure being rarely met with: indeed, one of the
first physicians[27] of our age tells us, that it is not known to have
been cured at all, but by a total extirpation of the part; and all,
who are conversant in physic and surgery, know very well, that that
operation is frequently no security against its return.
I have here endeavoured, in as concise a manner as might be, to exhibit
the history of this extraordinary plant. The being able barely to
know and distinguish one plant from another, however praise-worthy in
itself, ought not to be the only view of our botanical researches: we
should do more, and endeavour to investigate, in the most attentive
manner, the properties of vegetable productions, in order to accomodate
them to the various exigencies of human life.
Several classes of vegetables, from their merely herbaceous taste,
and, as far as we can conjecture, from their other sensible qualities,
seem to be formed by the great Author of nature principally for the
nourishment of animals: but those plants, which are endued with
principles so highly active, as, when taken in small quantities,
to be able to put an end to animal life; such deserve to be more
minutely inquired into, as under certain circumstances these
principles, properly directed, may conduce to great and good ends.
We should endeavour, therefore, diligently to inform ourselves, in
what quantities, and under what circumstances, the poison ends, and
where the medicine begins. In this respect we have certainly a notable
instance in the history before us in Professor Lambergen; whose
industry, more especially as it was attended with success, merits our
greatest acknowlegements; inasmuch as he has informed us, with no small
degree of accuracy and precision, that the plant under consideration,
which is well known to be of a highly deleterious nature, and that even
in a small quantity, may be so managed, as to be productive of good
effects, not to be found possibly by any other means.
Some of the most efficacious medicines are such, as, being posssessed
of highly active principles, do greatly disturb the animal œconomy in
their operation: nevertheless, however rough the _modus operandi_ of
any medicine be, if its efficacy by repeated trials be approved and
confirmed, this is so far from proving a discouragement to its use,
that we ought to regard the discovery of such a one as a valuable
acquisition to the province of physic, especially if it is applicable
in desperate and obstinate cases. The Bella-donna, on the contrary,
supposing future trials should prove it as happily successful as
Professor Lambergen has experienced it, is a medicine of a different
kind; inasmuch as its operation is mild, when compared with that, which
attends the exhibition of many others: we should therefore have double
reason to rejoice at the discovery.
XIII. _An Account of some of the Antiquities discovered at_
Herculaneum, &c. _In a Letter to_ Thomas Birch, _D.D. Secret. R.S. By_
John Nixon, _A.M. F.R.S._
[Read Feb. 24, 1757.]
Reverend Sir,
THE subject of this letter are some cursory observations made by me
last spring, upon viewing the curiosities found at Herculaneum, and
the places adjacent. I deferred putting them into any order, till I
came to town, and had seen, by perusing the Transactions of the Royal
Society, whether some abler hand had not already prevented me, and made
any further communication needless: but as I now find, that no notice
has been hitherto taken of several particulars, which, in my humble
opinion, deserved it, as tending to throw new light upon antiquity; I
beg leave to trouble you with my thoughts upon them.
I shall begin with the museum in the King of the Two Sicilies’ palace
at Portici; wherein, amongst a great number of other ancient and
valuable remains, are these that follow, _viz._