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THE ALUMNI JOURNAL. 



Euphorbia is an abundantly represent- 

 ed genus in this section, one species, the 

 E. Ipecacuanhse L., bearirg a large, 

 fleshy root, running down deep, often for 

 several feet, in the sandy soil along our 

 coast. It is noted for being probably the 

 most variable species as to the form of its 

 leaves of our local flora. Like its relatives 

 it produces an abundant milky juice. Its 

 specific name well indicates its ipecac- 

 like properties. It was at one time very 

 largely used instead of ipecac. No dis- 

 tinct case of poisoning by it is recorded. 



The roots of various species of Ascle- 

 pias may be referred to in similar terms. 

 Arissema triphyllum (L,.) Torr., Indian 

 Turnip, Wild Turnip or Jack-in-the- 

 Pulpit, is well known to every one who 

 visits our rich woods in spring and early 

 summer. Probably all are also aware of 

 the intensely acrid taste of itscorm in the 

 fresh state. Owing to this taste, there 

 is scarcely a possibility of its being eaten, 

 but if eaten in sufficient quantity it would 

 doubtless produce severe inflammation. 

 Its acrid properties are lost upon drying, 

 heating or keeping. 



Roripa Armoracia (L.) Hitchcock, 

 the common horse-radish, likewise loses 

 its irritating properties when heated or 

 dried. These are almost identical with 

 those of mustard, and while it would not 

 generally be regarded as a poisonous ar- 

 ticle, yet used in excess it may become 

 so through its powerful irritation of the 

 urinary organs, by which it is excreted. 

 Johnson gives a case in which this result 

 was extreme and serious. It may there- 

 fore be borne in mind that it should not 

 be consumed in inordinate quantity. 

 This result, should it occur, would be 

 found excruciatingly painful. 



Before concluding the subject of sus- 

 picious roots, reference should be made 

 to those of the Ailanthus glandulosus 

 Desf. Dr G. K. Meschter of Worcester, 



Pa., reported in the Medical and Surgical 

 Reporter of Philadelphia for 1872, page 

 159, a case in which four persons were 

 apparently poisoned by this root. They 

 were members of one family and were 

 successively, that is, at intervals of a few 

 days, attacked with no other possible 

 cause than their drinking water which 

 they took from the well of a neighbor. 

 They all drank water exclusively, except 

 the husband, who was the last to be 

 taken. Others who drank of this water 

 occasionally suffered similarly but to a 

 slight extent. All immediately began to 

 recover as soon as the drinking of this 

 water was stopped. The symptoms, 

 which had been slight for many weeks, 

 appeared in a violent form in November, 

 at which time an Ailanthus tree growing 

 in the vicinity of the well must have shed 

 its leaves, and to a great extent its fruit, al- 

 so if a pistillate tree which fact was not stat- 

 ed. On examination the soil all about the 

 well was found to be thickly permated with 

 the roots of this tree, and these were also 

 supposed to extend into the water, though 

 an investigation regarding this was ap- 

 parently not made. Inasmuch as the 

 symptons had existed in a mild form be- 

 fore the fall of the leaves, it is fair to as- 

 sume that the roots had contributed 

 toward the result, while the violent out- 

 break in November would seem to indi- 

 cate a sudden increase in the cause due to 

 the accumulation ot the leaves in the 

 well. The symptons were jaundice, a 

 dingy aspect of the fare and eyes, coun- 

 tenance fixed and anxious, pulse fre- 

 quent and soft, yellowish fur on tongue, 

 except on the tip and edges, tenderness 

 over the liver, and most important, a per- 

 sistent pain over the stomach with paro- 

 xysmal vomiting, pain in the back, diffi- 

 cult urination and obstinate constipation. 

 The symptons were thus apparently to a 

 great extent those of chronic gastritis. So 

 far as this tree has been ex itnined, it has 



