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BELLADONNA 303

the form of an aqueous, alcoholic, or ethereal solution, is employed
for the purpose of obtunding the sensitiveness of dentine, for
which it is a valuable application; and the ethereal solution pos-
sesses some advantages over the aqueous or alcoholic solutions
for such a purpose. To prepare an obtunding solution : *' Dis-
solve the crystals of the gold in pure water; fill a test-tube half
full of the solution, then add an equal quantity of sulphuric ether,
and agitate the mixture. Let it then rest for a few minutes,
when the ethereal solution will rise to the surface, and may be
poured off into another tube or phial, and securely stoppered. It
should be kept, as much as practicable, from the action of light
and air. Applied to dentine, on pledgets of cotton, it acts like
chloride of zinc, but more promptly and with less pain. Chlo-
rine is more abundantly liberated during its action than from
chloride of zinc ; hence it is a better disinfectant than the latter.
It has a fine yellow tint, and it is not absorbed by the dentine,
but forms an insoluble compound with the gelatinous elements.
As it is an irritant poison, care should be observed in its use. If
not protected in a glass-stoppered bottle, the gold is precipitated
in a metallic form.

BELLADONNA FOLIA -BELLADONNA LEAVES.
BELLADONN/E RADIX—BELLADONNA ROOT.

DEADLY NIGHTSHADE.
Source.— Belladonna is a perennial, herbaceous plant, found in
Europe, the leaves and root being the medicinal portions.
Medical Properties and Action.—Belladonna is anodyne and an-
tispasmodic, its activity depending upon an alkaloid. Atropine.
Belladonna, in small doses, is a valuable narcotic and anodyne
stimulant. It causes a peculiar dryness of the mouth, fauces,
stomach and intestines, but increased secretion follows, especially
in the case of the latter organs, when atropine is administered or
subcutaneously injected. In larger doses, it causes dilatation of
the pupils, giddiness, loss of vision, difficult deglutition, constric-
tion of the throat, difficult articulation, increased action of the
heart, quickened respiration, nausea, vomiting, diuresis, purging,