584 



MANUAL OF POISONOUS PLANTS 



In the Medical and Surgical Reporter of Philadelphia for 1872, this state- 

 ment is quoted by Dr. Rusby in regard to the poisoning coming from the roots 



of this plant. 



A case in which four persons were apparently poisoned by this root. They were mem- 

 bers of one family and were successively, that is, at intervals of a few days, attacked, 

 with no other possible cause than their drinking water which they took from the well of a 

 neighbor. They all drank water exclusively, except the husband, who was the last to be 

 taken. Others who drank of this water occasionally suffered similarly but to a slight ex- 

 tent. All immediately began to recover as soon as the drinking of this water was stopped. 

 The symptoms, which had been slight for many weeks, appeared in a violent form in 

 November, at which time an Ailanthus tree growing in the vicinity of the well must have 

 shed its leaves, and to a great extent its fruit also, if a pistillate tree, which fact was not 

 stated. On examination the soil all about the well was found to be thickly permeated with 

 the roots of this tree, and these were also supposed to extend into the water, though an 

 investigation regarding this was apparently not made. Inasmuch as the symptoms had 

 existed in a mild form before the fall of the leaves, it is fair to assume that the roots 

 had contributed toward the result, while the violent out-break in November would seem to 

 indicate a sudden increase in the cause due to the accumulation of the leaves in the well. 

 The symptoms were jaundice, a dingy aspect of the face and eyes, countenance fixed and 

 anxious, pulse frequent and soft, yellowish fur on tongue, except on the tip and edges, 

 tenderness over the liver, and most important, a persistent pain over the stomach with 

 paroxysmal vomiting, pain in the back, difficult urination and obstinate constipation. The 

 symptoms were thus apparently to a great extent those of chronic gastritis. 



Dr. Schaffner says that cows will not eat grass near the young shoots. 

 Quercetiin occurs in the leaves. They also contain the bitter principle linuttiti. 



POLYGALACEAE. Milkwort Family 



Herbs or rarely shrubs; stipules none; flowers perfect; sepals 5; petals 

 3 or 5, free; stamens 4-8, monadelphous, or diadelphous; anthers 1-celled, open- 



Fig. 322. Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus glandulosus). 

 The bark is supposed to cause dermatitis. (Ada Hayden). 



