12 OUR POISONOUS PLANTS. 
tigation have discovered to their cost. The disgusting odor of 
the skunk-cabbage (Symplocarpus fætidus) must always preclude 
similar experiments. Both of these plants belong to the order 
Araceæ, of which the sweet flag (Acorus calamus) is also a 
member. 
Certain of the fig-worts (Scrophulariacee) are narcotic poisons, 
but I know of none which need any special mention. The dog- 
banes (Apocynacee) belong to a poisonous family of which it is 
well to be careful, although, so far as I am aware, our two pretty 
species need not be avoided. They have a milky acrid juice, as 
do the Euphorbias to which the same remarks apply. In the 
( Urticacece) we have the hemp (Cannabis sativa) which, in the east, 
yields the well known drug called hasheesh. In our climate, I 
believe this poison is not developed. The nettles belong to the 
same family but it is unnecessary to point out the eminent pro- 
priety of handling these with gloves, as some of them are provided 
with stinging hairs. According to Scott, they are when young 
used as greens in Scotland and cultivated for that purpose. (Rob 
Roy, Chap. 8). 
The Indian tobacco so much used by quacks, is Lobelia inflata, 
a common little plant in open fields, with light blue flowers and 
inflated pods. The blossoms are very much smaller than those of 
the cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis), but of the same general 
appearance. All the lobelias are poisonous, and are much too 
oe recklessly employed by those who have little knowledge of their 
a power. It is said by Darlington that the quacks give the name of 
high- helia to the cardinal flower to distinguish it from low-belia. 
his gives some idea of the amount of their learning. 
_ There are some others of our native plants which possess an 
is send: juice, but I think I have now mentioned all that should be 
: Taoa, with the exception of certain fungi with which I am not 
f Among the grasses, there is but one, the darnel (Lolium 
: aali. that has the reputation of being noxious, and late 
said to poison cattle, but the assertion has not been proved. 
investigations appear to throw much doubt upon previous state- 
ments in regard to it. The Kalmia latifolia in Ericaceæ has 
mering the plants now mentioned, we find three that are 
to touch, Rhus venenata, Rhus toxicodendron and the 
ow ‘The. following are narcotic irritants, Veratrum, i 
ss OE = The re a 
