COMMON NAMES. Deadly Night-shade, Dwale, Black Cherry, etc.
    MEDICINAL PART. The leaves.
    Description. -- This perennial herb has a thick, fleshy, creeping root, and an annual erect leafy stem about three feet high. Leaves ovate, acute, entire, on short petioles, and of a dull green color. The flowers are dark purple, and fruit a many-seeded berry.
    History. -- This plant is common to Europe, growing among ruins and waste places, blossoming from May to August, and maturing its fruit in September. The leaves should be gathered while the plant is in flower. They yield their virtues to water and alcohol.
    Properties and Uses. -- Belladonna is an energetic narcotic. It is anodyne, antispasmodic, calmative, and relaxant; exceedingly valuable in all convulsive diseases. It is much used as a preventive of scarlatina, and as a cure for whooping-cough. It dilates the pupil of the eyes very measurably, and they should always be watched whenever the plant is administered. In the hands of the educated herbal physician it is a very useful remedy; but I caution my readers not to use it in domestic practice.