m] Umbelliferx 37 



In his description of the symptoms Esser states that swallowing is 

 difficult, the tongue is stiffened, there is salivation, and death takes 

 place after loss of consciousness and convulsions. 



REFERENCES. 

 31, 73, 81, 123. 141, 151, 170, 190, 203, 205, 213, 233, 238. 



Water Parsnip {Slum latifolium L.). The leaves and especially 

 the root of this species are regarded as poisonous, and the plant is 

 described as "poisonous" by Strasburger. 



According to Mliller the symptoms resemble those produced by 

 ChcBTophyllum (p. 40). After eating the roots cows showed symptoms 

 of excitement, leading, in some instances, very quickly to death. The 

 nulk, according to Comevin, is of a disagreeable flavour. 



The related *S. angustifoUum has also been mentioned as objectionable. 

 As regards the toxic principle these plants have not been closely studied, 

 and it is not possible to give detailed symptoms. 



REFERENCES. 

 73, 81, 190, 235. 



Water Dropwort {Oenanthe crocata L.). This weed of marshes, 

 ditches, and similar wet spots, has been a frequent cause of loss of stock. 

 Cases of fatal human poisoning have also occurred, owing to the leaves 

 having been mistaken for celery and the rootstock for parsnips. Several 

 cases of the poisoning of cattle have been recorded in the veterinary 

 journals, and sheep and cattle died on a farm near Bristol {Jour. Roy. 

 Agric. Soc, 1898). Horses have also been poisoned. Johnson and 

 Sowerby (1861) record the poisoning of 17 convicts near Woolwich, 

 the leaves and roots being eaten in mistake for celery and parsnips 

 respectively. Nine suffered from convulsions and became insensible; 

 one died in five minutes, a second in a quarter of an hour, a third in an 

 hour, and a fourth a few minutes later, while two more died during the 

 next few days. 



Cornevin says that this plant causes the poisoning of animals every 

 year — they eat it wiUingly, showing an enfeebled instinct owing to 

 domestication. The plant is poisonous in all its parts, the root being 

 the most toxic, and drying does not destroy the toxic property. Comevin 

 gives the following quantities of the fresh root as necessary to poison 

 various animals: — 



