49 



same genus, G. elegans, is said to have been formerly used at Hongkong 

 to put criminal offenders to death. 



Poisonous element. — A poisonous alkaloid, gelsemine, is found in the 

 bark of the root of the false jessamine, and it probably exists also in 

 the leaves and flowers. The root is used largely in medicine, and poison- 

 ing has been caused many times by overdoses and by mistaking the 

 drug for other household remedies. Accidental cases seldom happen 

 in the field, either with man or animals. One alleged case is, however, 

 especially worthy of mention. Three persons died at Branchville, S. C, 

 in 1885, supposedly from the effects of honey derived from the jessa- 

 mine. The medical journals, in reporting the case, stated that a large 

 quantity of gelsemine was found in a sample of the honey used, and 

 this has been generally accepted as a fact. Special inquiry made by 

 the Division of Botany has, however, revealed the fact that the honey 

 was not subjected to chemical analysis, and that the diagnosis was 

 based entirely upon the symptoms. Such conclusions are indefinite, 

 and since no similar fatalities have subsequently been noted, the real 

 cause of the above case is still an open question. 



Symptoms and remedy. — The symptoms produced by overdoses are 

 nausea, with ineffective attempts to vomit, pain in brows and eyeballs, 

 dimness of vision, double vision, a pronounced weakness of the muscles, 

 staggering, suffocation, and death by paralysis of the lungs. Imme- 

 diate and permanent relief has been obtained by the use of a strong 

 current«of electricity. The symptoms have also been offset by the pro- 

 fessional use of wild hemlock ( Conium maculatum) and atropine. The 

 stomach pump and coffee are effective when used in conjunction with 

 whisky. Artificial respiration should be maintained throughout the 

 treatment. 



POTATO FAMILY (SOLANACEAE). 



JIMSON WEEDS. 



Datura. 



Description and habitat. — Bank, ill-smelling plants, with large funnel- 

 shaped flowers and prickly four-valved seed pods. They are mostly 

 weeds which have been introduced into the United States from Europe 

 and tropical America. 



JIMSON WEED. 

 Datura stramonium L. 



Other names. — Jamestown weed; common stramonium ; thorn apple; 

 apple of Peru; devil's apple; mad apple; stinkwort; stinkweed (W. 

 Va.); Jamestown lily (N. 0.); white man's plant (by Indians). 

 (Fig. 30.) 



Description and habitat. — A stout, smooth, bushy annual 2 to 5 feet 

 high, with a coarse green stem, large flaccid leaves, and white, heavy- 

 scented flowers 2 to 4 inches long. The flowers appear from May to 

 17090— Ho, 20 4 



