DICOTYLEDONS 45 



agrees with buttercups. He relates in the Stock- 

 holm Acts that an ignorant surgeon having pre- 

 scribed the leaves, on his patient refusing to take 

 them, took a dose himself, and died in consequence. 



It is curious that a similar occurrence has been 

 recorded, of a person who, having eaten some leaves 

 of Aconite, became maniacal ; and when a surgeon 

 was called in, he denied that the plant was the 

 cause of his. delirium ; so he ate freely of the 

 leaves himself, and exhibited also all the symptoms 

 of mania. 



Aconite poisoning of wells by a virulent Indian 

 species {A.ferox) has been carried out by native 

 Indians to stop the progress of an army, as in the 

 case of the Nepal war ; but it was discovered in time. 

 They also use it for poisoning spears, darts, and 

 arrows, and for destroying tigers ; two and a half 

 grains of the extract are sufficient to kill a strong 

 dog. 



Besides the root, the leaves have been eaten as a 

 salad with fatal results. 



The whole plant is so dangerous that cottagers 

 who have but a limited space for their vegetables 

 and flowers should be advised never to grow it ; or 

 if they have it, to eject at once and burn any plants 

 of Aconite there may be. 



All children should be especially warned against 

 the Aconite, when in gardens; and told never to 

 put bits of leaves or petals in their mouths. 



