DICOTYLEDONS 9I 



easily rubbed off. The leaves are large and 

 compound ; the segments being deeply cut. Each 

 " tooth " is tipped with a minute sharp white point. 

 The fruit has many ridges, as shown in the figure. 

 It is not uncommon in hedges and waste places ; 

 and is easily recognized by the above characters, 

 especially the smooth spotted stein^ as well as the 

 size of the plant and foliage. 



The Hemlock was well known to the ancients as 

 poisonous ; and it was the juice of this plant, in all 

 probability, which Socrates was compelled to drink. 



Like so many other poisonous plants — as the 

 Aconite, Cherry-laurel, etc., it is much more 

 injurious in the hotter countries of South Europe 

 than in the North. Before flowering, the poisonous 

 principle is principally in the foliage, but it 

 becomes less so when the plant is in fruit, as this 

 latter then acquires it, which is more active before 

 being ripe than afterwards. 



When cut and dried, as in hay, the Hemlock loses 

 much of its poisonous properties, which are vola- 

 tile and easily dissipated. Cooking destroys it ; so 

 Pliny observes that it was actually eaten in his day 

 when thus prepared as food. 



Poisoning of human beings has apparently 

 mostly, if not always, resulted from errors in 

 administering the extract of Hemlock; for its dis- 

 agreeable odour has prevented its use as a vegetable 

 in the raw state. This has been the cause of mishaps 



