A native of the south of Europe, where it grows in mountainous regions on eminences covered with forests, also in damp and shady places. The plant growing in mountain-forests is much more vigor- ous than the artificially reared, or that which grows in damp or shady places. It was probably known to the Greeks; hence the name Atropa from atropos (inexorable) ; hence it was also termed Solanum lethale. Belladonna is the Italian for "beautiful lady"; the Italian ladies use the distilled water of belladonna leaves as a means of beautifying their complexion ; hence the name solanum cosmeticum. Belladonna seems to act primarily upon the cerebro-spinal system of nerves, and to affect the vascular system secondarily. The most characteristic symptoms of poisonous doses of belladonna are : dry- ness of the mouth and fauces, difficulty of swallowing, constrictive spasms of the fauces, inflammation of the fauces, dilatation of the pupils (mydriasis), presbyopia or long-sightedness, with obscurity of vision, or amaurosis ; optical illusions (phantasms), suffused eyes, singing in the ears, numbness of the face, giddiness, delirium and intoxication, sopor, scarlet eruption on the skin. Dr. Pereira reports seven cases of poisoning with belladonna, two of which proved fatal ; they occurred in the London hospital. The following symptoms attracted the Doctor's special attention : 1. Dry- ness of the fauces, causing excessive difficulty of swallowing and alteration of the voice. 2. Scarlet eruption on the arms and legs. BELLADONNA. 561