116 MEDICINAL HEllBS AND POISONOUS PLANTS 



a species of Azalea (A, pontica\ a plant very common 

 in Asia Minor, is stated to have caused the distemper 

 wliich seized Xenophon*s soldiers in the retreat of the Ten 

 Tliousand, The soldiers became intoxicated after eating 

 a small quantity of the honey, while a large quantity 

 made them mad. There can be little doubt that those 

 properties, Avhich the tropical species possess in an acute 

 degree, are to be found in a milder form also in the 

 species which grow in a temperate climate. Death is 

 known to have resulted after eatins the flesh of hares 

 which had fed on Rhododendron chrysanthitm. 



Kahnia latifolia is a hardy evergreen shrub from N. 

 America, and is comparatively common in our gardens. 

 The flowers are very ornamental, and may be recognized 

 b}^ the markedly peculiar stamens, wliich are hent doivn 

 and thrust into little pockets in the corolla. The whole 

 plant is dangerous, the leaves in particular being acrid 

 and narcotic. There are records of death having ensued 

 after eating birds (pheasants, partridges, &c.) which had 

 fed on the buds and seeds of this plant; the birds them- 

 selves being immune to the poison. 



Labrador Tea^ (Ledum latifolium). — This is a hardy 



evergreen shrub, from which, as its name implies, a "tea" 

 is prepared. A certain amount of risk attends the drink- 

 ing of tliis infusion, headache and nausea often resulting 

 therefrom. 



Marsh Tea (Ledum palustre), — This is very similar 

 to the preceding, and belongs to the same genus. Its 

 properties are the same, but it is also used medicinally 

 on account of the tannin, vokdile oil, &c., which it 

 contains. Preparations from this plant are employed 

 in the treatment of dysentery and certain cutaneous 

 diseases. 



Bearberby (Arctostaphylos Uva-ursi), — The most 

 important member of the Erieacene from a medicinal 



