OUR POISONOUS PLANTS 71 



plants are rare. Far otherwise is the case with some 

 of those species treated in this paper. Quite recently 

 a sad and fatal case of belladonna poisoning occurred 

 on the borders of Sussex. A party of four children, 

 in the course of an afternoon's ramble near Ems worth, 

 came across several plants of the deadly nightshade 

 loaded with fruit. Ignorant of their poisonous pro- 

 perties, and naturally attracted by their tempting 

 appearance, they ate a number of the dark purple 

 berries. On returning home to tea they were all 

 seized with the usual symptoms of belladonna poisoning 

 — dry throat, a difficulty in swallowing, rapid pulse, 

 widely dilated pupils, and delirium. The local surgeon, 

 who was quickly summoned, at once realised the 

 gravity of the situation, and without delay applied the 

 proper remedies. In the case of the three younger 

 children his skill and promptitude were rewarded with 

 success ; but the fourth sufferer, a lad of eleven who 

 had come from Portsmouth to spend a few days in the 

 country, never rallied, but passed away early on the 

 following morning. 



