9 



ctwi. In 



ctun. ^ in proportion aslve ascend, a rosy color 3s quite frequently 

 seen m such flowers as are, at lower stations, ordinarily pure white 

 or near])' colorless, such as SUene inflata, Silene rupestris, Bellis per- 

 enms.ttc A microscopic exa^mination made on tlie spot, in 'several 

 cases, showed that the increase of color was not due to a change 

 in the distribution of the coloring matters, but to an increase in the 

 number of the granules of the pigment in a given surface. It has 

 been shown that, in consequence of the purer atmosphere and the 

 less quantity of aqueous vapor, solar radiation on mountains increas- 

 es with the altitude ; and the production of coloring matters would 

 seem to vary in the same direction. Although ihe^amount of such 

 variation is very different in different species, M. Bonnier has 

 drawn from his observations the conclusion that ^' in the same species 

 the coloration of flowers of equal age increases in general with the 

 altitude, all other conditions being equal." 



' Fool's Parsley " not Poisonous. — For several centuries the plant 

 ^thuj^a Cynapium, L., has been the object of suspicion, and classed 

 among poisons by botanists and toxicological writers. But now Dr. 

 John Harley, of England, comes forward and presents a vindication 

 of what^ he call " an innocent and harmless plant." In the St. 

 Thomas' Hospital Reports he relates a number of facts to prove the 

 correctness of his conclusions. 7^he juices of the plant, from the 

 root as well as from the leaves, were obtained by expression just be- 

 fore flowering, and also after the plants had reached maturity and set 

 fruit. Being thus provided with a supply of material representing 

 the active properties of the plant, he exhausted it upon four patients, 

 one a little girl 4 years old, who took the extract in quantities 

 ranging from 2 drachms to 2 ounces; himself, who took it in quan- 

 tities ranging from 2 to 4 fluid ounces; and two other adults, who 

 were the subjects of spasmodic wry-neck. These two took one or 

 other of the juices in doses ranging from 1 to 8 fluid ounces. Effects 

 were anxiously looked for, but absolutely none followed in any of the 

 cases. Dr. Harley therefore feels compelled to assert that j^thusa 

 Cynapiuni of Sussex, Essex, Kent, Surrey and Hertfordshire is not 

 only absolutely free from the noxious properties attributed to it, but 

 that it is pleasant to sight, smell and taste, and, in the absence of 

 the more fragrant and succulent plants, might well be used as a 

 pot-herb or salad. He is satisfied further, that his conclusions are in- 

 dependent both of locality and season, and that the only influence 

 which these conditions have on fool's parsley, as on hemlock {Conium 

 macu/atnm), is to increase or diminish its succulency. Dr. Harley 

 some years ago made some observations on the last-mentioned plant, 

 and came to the same conclusion in regard to its innocuous nature 

 that he has concerning that of the jEt/iusa. In connection with this 

 it may be stated that Conium luaculatiifn in northern latitudes — Rus- 

 sia for example — is eaten vvith impunity, although precaution is taken 

 to first boil it in several waters. This subject of the harmlessness 

 under certain condilions of plants reputed to be poisonous, recalls 

 to mind the statement of Linnaeus, in his Flora Lapponica, that the 

 Norhmders i)repare from the leaves of Acouitum Napellus a broth, 

 which they eat without any injurious effects resulting therefrom. 



