Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/288

266] N 1 G ill the ears, and produces a general tremor. - The iiight-m.ire chiefly attacks nervous, hypochondriac, or delicate persons, when lying on th'-ir back : beside th? causes above stated, it jnay, in many instances, be assign- ed to indigestion. Hence perso.is of sedentary habits and weak nerves, tspecially those who are subjeA to flatulency, ouglit carefully to avoid all coarse and heavy nutrinaent ; to eat light but iioavishing food ; to abstain from late, or solid suppers^ ^nd lastly, to raise their heads in bed Kilerably high. As thdse who 4re attac-.ed with the night- mare generally groan when labouring un- 4er- a fit^ it will be requisite to ad- dress or icahe them instantly, as the uneasiness will thus be greatly remi-ved. Should, however, the paroxysm continue to increase, it will be useful to administer snaall, but frequent doses of valerian, asa- foetida, or other anti-spasinodics, and to strengthen the body with the mildest chalybeates. But if young petsons of plethoric habits be sub- jed to this aft"e£tion, it will be ad- visable to use a spare diet, to take daily exercise in the open air, and to cittend to the slate ol the bowels, in order to prevent cosiiveness. . Is|GHiSHABE, or Soiaiam, X.. a'genus of plaits, comprising do species ; of which only two are natives cf Britain ; uamely, i. The Dulcamara, Bitter- swtET,' or Woody -Nightshade, o^Vowing in moist brakes, hedges, «nd on the sides of cold biooks and ditches, where it liowers in the months of June and July. Jt en- dures ten years in the same toil, and attains, in the shade, ti.e height iof seven feet; bu'^ if there be no •siirubs in their vicinity, the shoots j^-eep along tlie ground, and fre- N IG quently strike new roofs. On ac* count of their d>"pth, the plant is uncommonly -useful towards con- solidating dams aitd banks of rivers* — BoEUHAAVE informs as, that the bitter-sweet is far superior to sar- saparilla ;— and, according to Lin- KJEVs, an infusion of the young twigs is eminently s.rviceable in acute rheumatisms, inflammations, fevers, Sec. It has also been found very efficacious in cases of asthma, jaundice, and of the scurvy ; for which purposes. Dr. Hallenbekg directs a pint of boiling water to be poured upon tv.o diams of the stalks, previously sliced and dried : after standing half an hour, the whole must be boiled for aboutiif- teen minutes. The dose is two tea-cupfuls, or more, in tiie morn- ing and eveni ng. The stalks may be gathered early m the spring, or late in autumn ; — in smell, the root of this vegetable resembles that of the potatoe. — Its beautiful red berries have a disagreeable taste, and pos- sess deleterious properties. — Sheep and goats eat the dulcamara, but horses, covi-s, and swine refuse it, 2. Thtnigrum, Common Night- shade, orGARDESF Nightshade; which grows among rubbish, on dung-hills, and ia kitchen gar- dens : it flowers from June to Odober. — Though geneialiy con- sidered as a poisonous- ^^'eed, the Dalmatians fry it in butter, and ejt this dish with a view to pro- cure a comiortabie sleep ; an edect whic!) the writer cf these pages had occasion to witness. — From one to three gtainsof the leaves, intused in boiling water, and taken at bed- time, induce a copious perspiration, in- crease the secretion of urine, and generally operate as a laxative on the following day. Hence this simple preparation, if judiciously admini-