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The reports of poisoning from the eating of toadstools are not in- 

 frequent, especially among recent immigrants, who let their fondness 

 for this class of plants get the better of their insufficient knowledge. 

 A very distressing instance occurred at Trenton in October last, i 



where a family of eight persons partook freely of Amanita phalloides 

 {L. ), one of the most poisonous of the species of toadstools. Forty 

 hours after the " mushroom " supper the miseries of two of the vic- 

 tims were terminated by death, and of a third four hours later. The 

 other five members, after a long illness and with the almost constant 

 attention of physicians and trained nurses, were restored. 



In the following pages the poisonous plants of the State will be 

 considered according to the brief outline that is given below : 



I. Plants poisonous when eaten (or juices taken internally). 



1. To the human species — 



a. Flowering plants. 



b. Flowerless plants. 



2. To live stock (animals other than the human) — 



a. Flowering plants. 



b. Flowerless plants. 



II. Plants poisonous by contact (or proximity). 



1. To the human species. 



2. To live stock, etc. 



The various species are considered somewhat in the order of their 

 toxic value, regarding, at the same time, family relationships. This 

 arrangement will place the parsley group at the head of the list, and 

 in this the water hemlock leads all others. 



The Water Hemlock. 



The water hemlock ( Cicuta maculata L. ) is the most poisonous plant 

 in the flora of the United States, and has probably destroyed more 

 human lives than all our other toxic plants combined. As a member 

 of the parsely family (Umbellifene), it resembles in general appearance 

 the carrot and parsnip of the same group of plants. A much-branched, 

 tall perennial, with hollow stems, white flowers and dissected leaves, 

 it grows commonly in swampy land throughout the eastern United 

 States and, to some extent, as far west as the Rocky Mountains. 



