4 OBSERVATION S on 



the fuppofed roots of parfnep, became ma^ 

 niacal, and were fo furious, that ftrid con^ 

 finement was neceffary for feveraldays. 



It has been affcrted by medical authors of 

 great reputation **, that the roots of parfnep 

 continuing in the fame ground for fome years, 

 contrad pernicious qualities, fo as to occafion 

 diforders of the fenfes. It appears, however, 

 inconfiftent with the fimple and uniform ope- 

 rations of nature to fuppofe that the root of 

 an wholefome and pleafant vegetable fhould 

 merely by continuing on the fame fpot, be- 

 come noxious : it is furely much more rea- 

 fonable to conclude, that the roots or feeds 

 of fome poifonous plant might be introduced 

 with manure, or by fome other means, into 

 the garden. 



On the loth of March, 1765, the family 

 of a farmer at Loughton in Buckingham (hire, 

 confifting of fix perfons, dined upon pudding, 

 boiled meat, and the roots of parfnep. Soon 

 after dinner they all became ill, and in two 



* Ray, Hiftoria Plantarum, i. 420. Dan. HofFman, 

 a£la acad, caefar. nat. curiofor. vol, vi, anno 1742. 

 Obf. 128. p. 426. 



hours 



