CICUTA VIROSA. 169 
Hisrory.—The Cicuta Virosa has been considered by some 
authors, and amongst them Haller, to be the xwvev of Dios- 
corides, and the herb from which the poison used by the 
Greeks to kill their criminals was extracted; others suppose 
that a mixture of different substances was employed. However, 
it is not at all unlikely that this plant, being, from its excessive 
virulence, a more fit instrument of death, was used in pre- 
ference to the Conium. Socrates drank Cicuta, as also did 
Phocion; recent commentators, however, consider that the 
Athenian Cicuta and Conium are identical. Although formerly 
prescribed, its use now is universally superseded by the Conium 
maculatum, and it is at present only occasionally employed, 
under the old school, as a poultice to relieve gouty and rheu- 
matic pains. 
Descriprion.—The Cicuta Virosa is a perennial plant. 
Flowers in July and August. The root is tuberous, hollow, 
divided into cells by transverse partitions ; fibres cylindrical, 
slender, in whorled fascicles. Stem from two to four feet high, 
hollow, leafy, branched, furrowed, smooth, often reddish ; its 
lower part divided by transverse partitions into large cells. 
Leaves on long petioles, twice ternate, bright green. Leaflets 
spear-shaped, pointed, sharply and deeply serrated, from one to 
two inches long, more or less remarkably decurrent; those of 
the upper leaves very narrow. Umbels upright, large, many- 
rayed, partly terminal, partly opposite to the leaves. Umbellules 
of very numerous, slender rays. Partial involucrum of many 
small, pointed leaves. Flowers white. Petals small, equal, 
much inflexed. -Anthers and style reddish. Fruit compressed, 
roundish, smooth, ribbed, almost black. It is one of the rankest 
of our vegetable poisons. 
GroararnicaL Disrrrsution.—A native throughout all 
Europe and Siberia; and of North America, between lat. 54° 
and 64°, 
Locatiriss.—In ditches and about the margins of rivers and 
lakes. Not common in this country; its chief localities being 
