BULLETIN OF THE 



No. 69 



■Contribution from the Bureau of Plant Industry, Wm. A. Taylor, Chief, 



and the Bureau of Animal Industry, A. D. Melvin, Chief. 



March 28, 1914. 



(PROFESSIONAL PAPER.) 



CICUTA, OR WATER HEMLOCK. 



By C. DwiGHT Marsh and A. B. Clawson, Physiologists, Drug-Plant and 

 Poisonous- Plant Investigations, Bureau of Plant Industry, and Hadleigh 

 Marsh, Veterinary Inspector, Bureau of Animal Industry. 



INTRODUCTION. 



HISTORICAL SUMMARY. 



Among poisonous plants the genus Cicuta is of especial interest, 

 as it is probably the most violently toxic of all the plants growing in 

 temperate regions. Since the middle of the sixteenth century the 

 genus has been definitely known, and the symptoms produced by it 

 have been accurately described many times. Before that time, if 

 recognized at all, it was not distinguished from Conium. The term 

 Cicuta occurs frequently in Lathi literature, but without any doubt 

 was used as the equivalent of the Greek Kcovswv. Whether the hem- 

 lock used by the Greeks and Romans for the punishment of criminals 

 and for suicidal purposes was an extract from a single plant or a com- 

 pound extract of several plants, as thought by some, may never be 

 known, but in any case it is evident that plants of the genus Cicuta as 

 recognized to-day were not used. The symptoms produced by the 

 hemlock are described in detail by Plato in connection with the death of 

 Socrates and are very different from those produced by Cicuta. There 

 seems to be little doubt that Conium was the principal constituent of 

 the hemlock and perhaps the only substance used. 



Albert Kegel, 1876-77,^ has gone into great detail in discussing the 

 history of the "hemlock" and "water hemlock," with copious quo- 

 tations from ancient authors. Inasmuch as Cicuta is not found in 

 any abundance in Greece and Italy, it may, perhaps, fairly be ques- 

 tioned whether the Greeks and Romans had any knowledge of the 



1 For complete titles of works cited in tliis bulletin, see list on pages 24 to 27. 

 Note. — Tliis bulletin describes water hemlock and its toxic effect upon animal lite wben taken into the 

 system; it points out the distinction between it and other tunbeUiterous plants, particularly coniiun, 

 with which it is most likely to be confounded. As the toxic principle is largely confined to the rootstock, 

 the tops and seeds if they become mixed with hay are not a source of danger. The subject is of general 

 interest, as cicuta is found in nearly all parts of the United States. 



24138°— Bull. 69—14 1 



