in] Umbelliferas 41 
Hemlock (Conium maculatum L.). This plant, famous from ancient 
times as extremely poisonous, has a fetid, disagreeable odour a mousy 
smell especially noticeable when the plant is bruised. It has caused 
human poisoning in three ways : the seeds have been eaten in error for 
anise, fhe leaves for parsley, and the roots for parsnips. 
Animals rarely appear to eat this plant, but cases have been recorded. 
It is stated that in the United States many domestic animals have been 
killed by it ; and Ewart says that it is responsible for poisoning a number 
of cows in Victoria. Goats are believed to be largely immune to the 
poison, or are less harmed than other animals, and sheep are stated to 
eat the plant with impunity, though cases of poisoning are recorded. 
Johnson and Sowerby state that horses have occasionally swallowed 
considerable quantities without apparent effect, while Cornevin remarks 
that to cause death a horse would need to eat 4 to 5| Ib. of the fresh 
plant, or a cow 8f to 11 Ib. 
Hemlock is probably most dangerous to live stock in the spring, 
when green herbage is least plentiful and the young shoots of hemlock 
are fresh and short. Chesnut says that the root is nearly harmless in 
March, April and May, but dangerous later, especially in the first year 
of growth; but Esser states that it is only poisonous in the spring. 
The foliage is more poisonous before flowering than after, when the 
poisonous principle passes to the fruits, which are more poisonous before 
ripening (three quarters ripe) than afterwards. Pott remarks that 
after eating hemlock cows give milk with a bad taste. 
Toxic Principle. Early in summer the toxic principle appears to 
be chiefly contained in the foliage, but later in the fruit, particularly 
when still green. Among the substances contained in hemlock are the 
toxic alkaloid Coniine (C 8 H 17 N), the poisonous Coniceine (C 8 H 15 N), 
Conhydrine (C 8 H 17 NO), the alkaloid Methylconiine (C 9 H 19 N), Pseudo- 
conhydrine (C 8 H 17 ON). Coniine may be described as an oily, colourless, 
quite volatile liquid, quickly turning brown on exposure to the air, and 
giving a mousy odour to the whole plant. The amount of Coniine in 
the fresh leaves is given (Pammel) as 0-095 per cent., but in the ripe 
seeds 0-7 per cent. English fruits contain much more of the total 
alkaloids than imported fruits. Owing to the volatile character of the 
poisons hemlock largely loses its toxicity when dried in hay, and is there- 
fore the less likely to prove injurious to domestic animals. 
Symptoms. Hemlock is a dangerous narcotic plant. Even the 
smallest quantities may cause inflammation of the digestive organs, 
paralysis and death. The general symptoms are salivation, bloating, 
