16. Eyedrops made from a deadly poison were a common cosmetic
The Nightshade plant known as atropa belladonna, and usually referred to as belladonna, which means beautiful lady in Italian, was valued for its cosmetic uses despite the fact that the plant and many of its components, such as leaves, roots, and berries, are highly toxic. Its relationship to the tomato plant is one reason that the fruit of the tomato was so long considered by many to be poisonous. Belladonna is one of the most toxic plants native to the Eastern hemisphere, but it has been used for cosmetic purposes at least as far back as the Roman Empire. Its berries, one of the most toxic parts of the plant, appear in the shape of cherries, about the size of blueberries, and were the portion of the plant often kept by women in the past.
The juice of the berries was used to make eye drops, which when placed in the eyes caused them to dilate in a manner which appeared seductive. The use of the drops is believed to be behind the name of the plant by some, whether true or not is debatable. The length of time the eye remained dilated depended on the strength of the drops, the amount applied, and frequency of use. In many cases the drops led to temporary blindness or visual distortion, accelerated heart rates, hallucinations, and fainting. Prolonged use could lead to permanent vision loss as well as heart palpitations. Belladonna was also sometimes applied to the skin of the face around the eyes, which caused a similar reaction, though less pronounced. It remains in use in some homeopathic medicines in the 21st century, though the United States Food and Drug Administration warns against its use for children when teething, one of the applications for which it is marketed.