138 OCCASIONALLY FATAL. 
pound, with one to thirteen entire leaflets, obovate, oval, 
or the lowest ovate, with short stalks and acuminate 
points. The small, green flowers are in loose panicles in 
the axils of the leaves. The fruit is greyish in colour and 
slightly oblong. The leaves are very brightly coloured in 
autumn. 
HEATH FAMILY—£ricaceae. 
THE FETTER-BUSH, Andromeda polifolia L., contains 
andromedodextrin, a narcotic poison, in its leaves. Pam- 
mel states that it has been known to poison sheep. It is 
a shrub six inches to two feet high, growing in bogs 
throughout the country. Its small, oblong, leathery leaves 
have strongly revolute margins, and are white woolly be- 
neath. The drooping umbels each contain only a few deli- 
cately coloured pink flowers. 
LEATHERWOOD FAMILY—Thymelaceae. 
THE SPURGE LAUREL, Daphne Mezereum L., is known 
by a variety of other common names, viz., Mezereon, 
Lady-laurel, Paradise Plant, Mystery Plant and Dwarf 
Bay, and contains several poisonous substances. Its bark, 
leaves and fruit are poison when taken internally, pro- 
ducing burning, vomiting, giddiness and convulsions. 
Fresh bark soaked in water produces blisters when ap- 
plied to the skin. 
It is a small shrub with oblong, lanceolate leaves, fra- 
grant, rose-purple flowers, and red drupes. 
THE LEATHERWOOD, Dirca palustris L., known locally 
as Moosewood, Wicopy, Swampwood, and Rope-bark, pro- 
duces effects similar to those of Daphne. It is a shrub 
‘with yellowish-green branches and oval leaves, two or 
