Decisiones praecipuorum aliquot aporēmatōn iatrophilosophikōn

Is the Nicotiana of the Gauls to be referred to black henbane?

THE shrub of black henbane consists of very broad and hairy leaves, similar to mullein, on a branching and shrubby stem: with flowers pale from brown, and tending toward a dull bluish-purple: with follicles filled with black seed: with pods original: "cytinis" somewhat hard and prickly. It is a violent narkōtikon narcotic, and to such a degree a dēlētērion poison, that it not only generates insanity, dizziness of the head, and lethargy in men; but also, as Aelianus reveals, boars are paralyzed by eating it: whence it is endowed with the name of "swine beans." Rightly, therefore, is it called a rash medicine by Pliny (Book 25, ch. 4), especially since the oil from its seed, when instilled into the ears, tempts the mind. Which, after Pliny, Perottus Sipontinus also affirmed (Book 1, Commentaries on the Latin Language, in Epigram 6). But the tobacco of the Spaniards rises to a great height, equalling the Assyrian apple, which they call lemon: xulokaulo woody-stemmed: with an oxylapathum-like i.e., dock or sorrel-like leaf, of a green color, rather light: adorned with a white and purplish flower, at the top of the branches.