AUTHOR’S NOTE
166 Words
AUTHOR’S NOTEBelladonna is one of the oldest poisons in herbal history. At the same time in the homeopathic form it can be a valuable medicine and minute quantities of a tincture made from the berries of the Belladonna will act as the prophylactic against scarlet fever.
Yet Belladonna is dangerous and the botanical name Atropa connects it mythologically with one of the Fates, to whom were entrusted the shears with which to cut the thread of human life.
Deadly Nightshade, as Belladonna is more often called in England, should never be grown in a garden where there are children, as they are tempted to taste the attractive, brightly coloured berries.
Doctor Fernie says that one of the peculiarities of poisoning caused by this berry is complete loss of voice, a curious movement of the hands and fingers and a bending backwards and forwards of the body. It affects specifically the brain and the bladder and influences all cold extremities and all forms of illusions of sight.
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