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MANUAL OF POISONOUS PLANTS 



crick B. Power and one of his pupils (Mr. J. T. Bennett) undertook some 

 experiments to determine whether the cultivated parsnip running wild 

 had any toxic properties. Mr. Bennett failed to detect the presence 

 of any poisonous principle in the root of the true wild parsnip 

 (Pastinaca sativa) and when the boiled roots were fed in considerable amounts 

 to a cat, no symptoms of poisoning were manifest. We may add as a further 



Fig. 377. Wild Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa). A 

 plant with yellow flowers and is feral form of 

 ordinary parsnip. Often mistaken for Cowbanc. 

 (Charlotte M. King.) 



testimony that Professor Power reports that his associate, Dr. Kremers, in- 

 sisted upon eating one-half of one of the raw roots obtained from Mr. Rynning 

 of West Salem, Wisconsin, which were supposed to cause cases of the poisoning. 

 Dr. Kremers reported no ill effect whatever. One of the largest of the fresh raw 

 roots weighing three and one-half ounces avoirdupois was chopped fine, mixed 

 with some meat and fed to a small dog. The animal ate it greedily and without 

 disturbance. There were no symptoms whatever of poisonous action. I have 

 on different occasions eaten the wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa), without any 

 ill effect, so that the above results are corroborated. I will admit that I had 

 some hesitancy at first and that Mr. Sexton, the foreman of the horticultural 

 department at the Iowa State College did not expect to see mc alive by evening. 

 I must confess also that the roots were somewhat woody and not very palatable. 

 Dr. J. J. Brown, Sheboygan, Wisconsin, as quoted by Dr. Power, states that 

 he had prepared and dug enough wild parsnips for a good dinner which he ate 

 and can testify that he could discover but little difference cooked or raw, from 

 cultivated parsnip and those which had run wild for about 50 years. 



