STRAMONIUM  , in

medicine, a drug obtained from the leaves and seeds of the Dalura stramonium . Both contain an alkaloid known as daturine . From the seeds is made extractum stramonii . The tinctura stramonii is made from the leaves . The physiological action of stramonium resembles that of belladonna, except that stramonium relaxes to a greater extent the unstriped muscle of the bronchial tubes; for this reason it is used in asthma to relieve the bronchial spasm . Cigarettes made of stramonium leaves may be smoked or the tincture may be taken internally . Frequently the leaves powdered together with equal quantities of the powdered leaves of the Cannabis Indica and lobelia mixed with potassium nitrate are burned in an open dish . The preparation gives off dense fumes which afford great relief to the asthmatic paroxysm . Numerous patent " cures " for asthma contain these ingredients in varying proportions . Daturine is used as daturinae sulphas . In acute mania it acts like hyoscyamine in producing sleep .. In large doses stramonium is a narcotic poison producing the well-marked stages of exaltation of function, diminution of functional activity, and later Ioss of function, sinking into coma and paralysis .