428 CICUTA MACULATA, 
lucre. The partial umbels are furnished with in- 
volucres of very short, narrow, acute leafets. The 
distinctness or separation of these umbels charac- 
terizes this plant at a distance among other plants 
of its kind, whose umbels are more crowded. Ca- 
lyx of five very minute segments. Petals five, 
white, obovate with inflected points. Fruit nearly 
orbicular, compressed, ten furrowed, crowned at 
top, and separating into two semicircular seeds. 
The fleshy root of the Cicuta maculata, when 
pressed, emits from its divided extremities a viscid 
yellowish juice of a strong penetrating taste. This 
juice dissolves in alcohol, from which it is precipi- 
tated by water. When distilled, a thick volatile 
oil collects in the receiver in the form of a film 
upon the surface of the water. The remainder of 
the juice yields a resin of a dark orange colour, 
fusible and inflammable. The decoction of the 
root affords a pearl coloured fluid, not very sensi- 
ble to the tests of mucus, fecula, tannin or ex- 
tractive. | ; 
In August 1814, an account was sent to Bos- 
ton by Dr. Stockbridge of Bath (Maine) of the ef- 
fect produced on three boys by eating a poisonous 
root, which they had dug up, supposing it to be- 
long to the plant called “ Life of man.” One of 
them was siezed with violent convulsions, frothed 
