( 109 ) 
The articles of each of these groups are again arranged 
in the order of their natural botanical sequence, from the 
lowest to the highest plant. 
Poisonous Plants of the Vicinity of New York. Cases 122 
and 123.—While a vast majority of plants are innocuous, 
a number are decidedly poisonous, either to the touch or 
when taken into the system. Although many of them are 
not likely to be eaten, there are a few which, for special 
reasons, are very liable to be so, and which are the cause 
of many fatal accidents. Prominent among these are 
pokeroot, sometimes mistaken for horseradish, aconite 
root, often mistaken for the same condiment, pokeroot 
shoots, eaten like asparagus without proper precautionary 
preparation, veratrum leaves and stramonium leaves, 
eaten as greens, Cicuta roots, eaten for Jerusalem arti- 
chokes, and its stems, eaten for angelica, and belladonna 
fruits and stramonium seeds, sometimes eaten by children. 
Besides these, there are others which are liable to be eaten 
with evil results by live stock. Owing to imperfect knowl- 
edge of these poisonous species, accidents are liable to 
occur, on the one hand, while on the other, unjustified fear 
may prevent the use or handling of quite innocent plants. 
It has therefore been deemed desirable to have a very com- 
plete and carefully prepared exhibit of all poisonous plants, 
both wild and cultivated, growing in the vicinity of New 
York, which may be consulted or studied, especially by 
children. At the time of the printing of this Guide, this 
collection is very incomplete, so that it cannot be relied 
upon as a complete guide on the subject. Plans are per- 
fected, and will be promptly executed, for the perfection of 
this exhibit. 
Insecticides. Case 124.--Many of the poisonous plants, 
and some which are not so, have a wide use for the destruc- 
tion of insect pests, in the house, infesting cultivated 
plants, or even found upon the animal body. A number 
of these are here exhibited and to them additions are 
being made as opportunity affords. 
