Hot as a hare,

Blind as a bat,

Dry as a bone,

Red as a beet,

Mad as a hatter.

They sound like a curse (or a really morbid nursery rhyme!), but the lines above are actually a “simple mnemonic trick” for medical students memorizing the effects of deadly nightshade poisoning. Deadly nightshade, a plant also known as belladonna, is especially deadly because of an alkaloid named atropine. Atropine is what causes the symptoms: fever, headache, hallucinations, and “meaningless speech.”

Deadly nightshade is one of the oldest known botanical poisons. It’s native to Europe and related to tomatoes, peppers, and mandrakes. Though the entire plant can be toxic, the shiny black berries are the worst offenders. Eating one probably won’t result in death, but then again, some of the berries are more toxic than others– so it isn’t worth the chance.

Many deaths and dangers throughout history have been attributed to deadly nightshade. Here are just a few highlights from its macabre past:

  • Roman Emperor Augustus was supposed murdered with nightshade-laced figs (by his wife, Lucia!)
  • Along with monkshood and opium poppy, nightshade is believed to have been used as a witches’ “flying ointment” during medieval times. While it wouldn’t actually help anyone defy gravity, it certainly would create hallucinations of doing so.
  • One fad amongst Venetian ladies was to use an atropine tincture to dilate their eyes, to make them appear more beautiful. Over time, this could lead to madness. Ah, the price of beauty! Some think that this trend is where the name “belladonna” originated.
  • Atropine and Atropa, part of the latin name of deadly nightshade, come from one of the Greek Fates, Atropos. Of the three Fates, Atropos was the one to end a person’s life.

The story of deadly nightshade isn’t all bad, however. Historically, it was used in anesthetic concoctions, and today atropine is still used medically as an antidote to nerve gas and pesticides. Still, it has quite the spine-tingling reputation. I’m adding it to the list for future mysteries — of the fictional variety, of course! 🙂

References

Inkwright, Fez. Botanical Curses and Poisons: The Shadow Lives of Plants. Liminal 11, 2021.

Stewart, Amy. Wicked Plants: The Weed that Killed Lincoln’s Mother & Other Botanical Atrocities. Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 2009.