Note 34 — Chapter XXIV · DATURA AND CO.

The potato, the tomato, and egg plant possess, when uncooked, in a mild degree, the properties of the nightshade, the stramonium, and the henbane, confirming the remark of De Candolle “that all our aliments contain a small proportion of an exciting principle, which, should it occur in a much greater quantity, might become injurious, but which is necessary as a natural condiment.” In fact, when food does not contain some stimulating principle, we add it in the form of spices.