78 Rhodora (Marcu 
eliminated from the system. On this occasion double the first 
quantity was taken, and in less than half an hour there was a 
decided quickening of the pulse and a return of the burning in the 
stomach, this time more severe than before. These symptoms were 
transient, lasting perhaps fifteen minutes. 
Two days later twice the former amount was taken. Half an hour 
afterward all curiosity on the subject of red baneberry was 
abundantly satisfied, for this one experimenter at least. At first 
there was a most extraordinary pyrotechnic display of blue objects of 
all sizes and tints, circular with irregular edges: as one became 
interested in the spots a heavy weight was lowered on the top of the 
head and remained there, while sharp pains shot through the 
temples. 
Then suddenly the mind became confused and there was a total 
disability to recollect anything distinctly or arrange ideas with any 
coherency. On an attempt to talk, wrong names were given to 
objects, and although at the same time the mind knew mistakes were 
made in speech, the words seemed to utter themselves independently. 
For a few minutes there was great dizziness, the body seeming to 
swing off into space, while the blue spots changed to dancing 
sparks of fire. The lips and throat became parched and the 
latter somewhat constricted; swallowing was rather difficult; there 
was intense burning in the stomach with gaseous eructations, fol- 
lowed by sharp colicky pains in the abdomen and also pain across 
the back over the kidneys. The pulse rose to 125, was irregular, 
wiry, tense; the heart fluttered most unpleasantly. 
These symptoms lasted about an hour and were followed by a feel- 
ing of great weariness, but in three hours from the time of taking the 
dose all seemed to be again normal. The experiment was carried 
no further, as the effects in heart and brain were danger signals not to 
be ignored. 
The conclusion reached is, that while the very unpleasant taste 
will prevent it from being dangerous in general, the fruit of the red 
baneberry evidently contains a poison having a powerful effect on 
circulation and brain; a dozen berries would probably be enough 
for a fatal dose, half that amount sufficing for the above experience. 
BRADFORD, VERMONT. 
