ORACLES PRODUCED BY POISON 



influenza and asthma. It is sometimes used in Europe for 

 neuralgia and even epilepsy. On the other hand, the priests 

 of the ancient Peruvians used Datura to produce the rav- 

 ings mistaken for inspiration, and it is supposed that the 

 priests of Apollo at Delphi employed an allied species for the 

 same purpose. In India, China, West Africa, and amongst 

 the American blacks, it is still very commonly used. 



A firm belief existed in the Middle Ages that every plant 

 was a good remedy for something. There is a real basis in 

 fact for this superstition, because every plant in the world 

 has, so far as it can do so, to protect itself. The attacks of 

 all sorts of grazing animals, from the mouse to the elephant, 

 as well as the infinitely more dangerous and destructive 

 insects, bacteria, and fungi, have to be provided for. By far 

 the commonest form of protection is to develop within the 

 plant strong medicinal or strongly smelling substances. 

 These are far better as protective agents than the thorns 

 and spines characteristic of deserts and half-deserts. We 

 have already glanced at the turpentines and resins of 

 Coniferous forests and at the odorous gums, frankincense, and 

 myrrh of the Acacia scrub. 



The use of poisons as protection is eminently characteristic 

 of three of the natural orders. The Buttercups {Ranun- 

 culacece), the Potato order (SolanacecB) and the Lilies. Of 

 the first named, the celery-leaved, and indeed all Buttercups, 

 are extremely poisonous ; so also are all Aconites and 

 Hellebores, as well as Marsh Marigold, Adonis, Clematis, 

 and Larkspur. 



Others, though not poisonous, are strongly medicinal, such 

 as Blake Snakeroot, Hydrastis, etc. It is therefore inadvis- 

 able to use any of this order for food unless other people 

 have eaten it without any inconvenience ! 



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