cr.ASS V. ORDER II.J cexanThe. 377 



who" ate of them with their dinner. A few minutes afterwards, the 

 remaining two who gathered the plants were seized in the same manner 

 as the first, of which one died ; the other was bled, and a vomit with 

 great difficulty forced down, on account of his jaws being, as it were, 

 locked together. This operated, and he recovered ; but was some 

 time affected with dizziness in his head, though not sick, or the least 

 disordered in the stomach." Numerous cases are on record of the 

 poisonous effects of this plant, and accidents are of frequent occurrence 

 in its being mistaken for other plants. The symptoms which it gene- 

 rally produces are heat in the throat and stomach, delirium, followed 

 by stupor, and, more or less general convulsions. 



It appears to contain the most energetic poison of all our umbelliferous 

 plants, producing the violent symptoms above stated almost imme- 

 diately after being taken, and terminating the existence of the unfor- 

 tunate individuals sometimes within an hour ; but it is seldom they 

 live more than four hours, unless some remedial means have been 

 taken, by producing immediate sickness. Frequently bleeding is 

 necessary, and drinking large quantities of warm diluents, followed up 

 with some active aperient medicine. 



The violent action of this plant upon the system has not, however, 

 prevented its being used medicinally in the treatment of obstinate 

 afi"ections of the skin, in which it is said to have been found ser- 

 viceable. The juice is of a yellow colour, and its odour resembles 

 in some degree that of the vine blossom. It was taken in the 

 dose of a table spoonful, in a case related by Dr. Bulteny, affecting 

 the head in two hours after, in a very extraordinary manner, followed 

 with violent sickness and vomiting, succeeded by cold sweats and 

 rigors. These severe symptoms appears not, however, to have deterred 

 the patient from continuing the medicine, but in smaller doses, until 

 it efi"ected a cure. The roots have also been used in the form of 

 poultices to felons, whitlows, and foul ulcers; and it is said to be 

 sometimes used as a bait to poison rats and moles. 



The noxious effects of this plant do not appear limited to the human 

 subject, but are equally poisonous to some animals, while others eat it 

 with impunity. 



This species is nearly allied to the (E. apiifolia, of Brotero, dif- 

 ering, according to Sir W. H. Hooker, only in the colour of the 

 secretions in the plant ; but these secretions are variable, owing to the 

 season and situation of growth of the plant. CE. apiifolia is said to 

 grow about Plymouth. The distinctive characters of the two plants 

 would be best investigated in their native situation, and we hope some 

 one will examine them more minutely. 



5. CE. Phellan' clrium, Spreng. (Fig. 440.) ^ne leaved Water Drop- 

 wort. Root fusiform ; stem much branched ; leaves bi-tripinnate ; 

 leaflets ovate, wedge-shaped, cut, and spreading the submerged ones. 



