CONIUM MACULATUM. 297 
patches of congestion on the mucous coat. The blood through- 
out the body was fluid, and of a dark colour. A portion of the 
green vegetable mass was identified by Dr. Christison as part 
of the Conium maculatum. Some of the leaves bruised in a 
mortar, with a solution of potash, also gave out the peculiar 
odour of the volatile principle, Conia (Edin. Med. and Surg. 
Journal, July, 1845, p. 169). 
Delirium and convulsions are not common effects of poisoning 
by this plant (Taylor, 1. c.) 
Two priests ate Hemlock root by mistake; they became raving 
mad, and mistaking themselves for geese, plunged into the 
water; for three years they suffered from partial palsy and 
violent pain (Wibmer, Wirk, etc., ii. 172). 
An old woman suffered for three months with abdominal 
pain and convulsive movements of the limbs, in consequence of 
eating Hemlock root* ( Wibmer, 1. c.) 
‘M. Haaf, a French army surgeon, has described a fatal case 
of poisoning with Hemlock. ‘The subject of it, a soldier, had 
partaken, along with several comrades, of a soup containing 
Hemlock leaves, and appeared to them to drop asleep not long 
after, while they were conversing. In the course of an hour 
they became alarmed on being all taken ill with giddiness and 
headache, and the surgeon of the regiment was sent for. He 
found the soldier, who had fallen asleep, in a state of insensi- 
bility, from which, however, he could be roused for a few 
* Respecting Hemlock root, we have many different statements; some say that 
it is highly deleterious; others, that it is perfectly innocuous, but this depends 
probably on the time of gathering. Ray relates that Mr. Petiver ate half an ounce 
of the root of Hemlock, and Mr. Healy four ounces, without producing any effect 
(Phil. Trans., vol. xix. p. 634). Curtis (Flor. Londinensis) relates that Mr. 
Alchorne and Mr. Timothy Lane ate its root with impunity; and Mr. Lane had 
some boiled, and found them as agreeable as carrots. Mr. Steven, a Russian 
botanist, states that the Russian peasants eat it with impunity, and it is probable 
that the colder the climate the less poisonous is the root. Pliny also (Nat. 
Hist., b. 26, c. xiii.) says, “as for the stems and stalks, many there be who do 
eat it both green and also boiled, or stewed between two platters.” 
