DICOTYLEDONS 99 



The plant has rather a strong odour and a 

 bitter taste. Though cows refuse it, most animals 

 can eat it with impunity. But a case is on record 

 of a herd of pigs foraging among a quantity of the 

 beaked parsley, which was struck with a sort of 

 paralysis. Four died from severe internal in- 

 flammation. 



Wild Carrot {Daiicus Carota), — One would 

 not suspect this plant of having any deleterious 

 properties. It certainly has none when cultivated ; 

 but a remarkable occurrence is reported in the 

 case of some white mice to which the roots of the 

 wild carrot were given to eat ; they died very 

 quickly after consuming it. 



Nothing is known of any deleterious principle 

 in the wild form of the plant. It has a rather 

 strong odour and taste. Further researches are 

 required. 



Cow-Parsnip or Hog weed {Heradeum Sphon- 

 dylitim), a coarse-growing plant with large leaves 

 and broad, rough leaflets, common in moist woods 

 and meadows. It is usually regarded as entirely 

 inoffensive ; and it is only under special conditions 

 that it appears capable of doing any harm. In 

 Belgium it has given rise to the affection known 

 as Panaisie ; because in that country it is com- 

 monly called Cow-Parsnip. A number of work- 

 men in the month of August in 1856, at a time 

 of great heat and heavy dews, the plants being 



