fool's-parsley. Siy 



after wliich the extremities became convulsed, the organs of 

 sense enfeebled, and the oesophagus and throat were the seat 

 of spasmodic contractions. The stupor gradually increased, 

 and the animal died at the end of an hour. On dissection, the 

 heart was contracted and filled with blackish fluid blood, even 

 in the left ventricle ; the lungs were less crepitant than in 

 their natural state ; the stomach was full of the ingested juice, 

 there was no alteration in the digestive canal *. 



There are several cases recorded of the effects of this plant 

 on the human body, which, if not exaggerated, prove it to be 

 of a very deleterious nature. 



" Two ladies of Castle Donnington, Leicestershire, partook of some 

 salad wherein jEthusa Cynapiurn had been put by mistake for common 

 parsley, with which it had been grown, and was gathered. Symptoms of an 

 alarming kind soon followed, indicative of the full operation of that perni- 

 cious vegetable. They were, a troublesome nausea, with occasional vomit- 

 ing, accompanied with oppressive headache and giddiness ; also a strong 

 propensity to slumber, at the same time that calm repose was wholly pre- 

 vented by frequent starlings and excessive agitations. The mouth, throat, 

 and stomach were impressed with the sensation of pungent heat, attended 

 with great difficulty in swallowing. Increased thirst prevailed, with total 

 loss of appetite for every kind of solid aliment. The extremities felt be- 

 numbed and were aflFected with tremors ; and all the vital and animal 

 functions were performed with unusual inactivity." -|- The ladies ultimately 

 recovered. 



" A boy six years old having eaten, at four o'clock in the afternoon, of 

 this herb, which he mistook for parsley, soon uttered cries of distress, and 

 complained of cramps in the stomach. Before his father had conveyed him 

 from the field, his whole body was much swollen, and assumed a livid tint ; 

 his breathing was short and very difficult, and he died about midnight. 

 Another boy, four years old, who was poisoned in the same manner was 

 fortunately seized with vomiting ; but this did not prevent the access of 

 delirium. His life was saved, however, though the physician did not arrive 

 till the next morning." :j: 



A young man eat a handful of Fool's-Parsley, with nearly the same 

 quantity of lettuce, about one o'clock at noon, on Thursday ; in about ten 

 minutes he was affected with pain and hardness in his stomach and bowels, 

 attended with a rumbling. He walked out, but was seized with such 

 languor, weariness, and weakness, that he could scarcely get home ; giddi- 

 ness and confusion of vision ensued ; at seven o'clock he took an emetic ; 



* Traite des Poisons, torn. ii. p. 314. 



f Jledical and Physical Journal, vol. xiv. p. 425. 



i Orfila, loco cit. 



A A 



