96 



POISONOUS PLANTS 



Water-Dropwort, and thinking it closely resembled 

 parsnips, seventeen of them ate it. Shortly after, 

 nine went into convulsions ; six of them died 

 within a few hours. In one case the quantity taken 

 did not exceed the top of the finger in size. The 

 symptoms were insensibility, tetanus, delirium, and 



insanity. The behaviour 

 of persons poisoned is 

 described as being like 

 those of delirium tremens. 

 The root is considered to 

 be the most active part of 

 the plant ; it is described 

 as being not unpleasant 

 to the taste ; but a very 

 small portion of it, unless 

 speedily ejected by an 

 emetic, will suffice to 

 destroy life. 



CE. Phsllandrium (Fig. 

 25) is also an aquatic 

 plant, growing in ponds 

 and ditches. The leaves have finely - divided 

 segments, and those submerged, as is so generally 

 the case, almost thread- or fennel-like. 



Though poisonous, its deleterious principle is 

 less at spring-time than later in the season ; so 

 that cattle can browse upon it with impunity; but 

 it is injurious to horses. 



Fig. 25. CEnanthe Phellandrium. 



