m 
ANNALS OP THE 
dies for the diseases under which they suflFer. The woods and swamps of Canada 
are rich in plants having energetic properties, and when mistakes are made through 
ignorance, or want of proper advice, melancholy accidents frequently happen, A 
case of this kind is reported as follows, in a letter from Dr. J. D. Trousdale, of 
Melrose, a graduate of the Kingston University, and a Fellow of the Botanical 
Society : — 
"On the afternoon of Wednesday, 11th December, Mr. Henry Jones, of the 
Township of Thurlow, went out into his fields to gather what is commonly called 
" spignut" or spikenard (Aralia racemosa, L.), to make a syrup for his step-daugh- 
ter, to relieve a " pain in the stomach." Unfortunately he gathered by mistake, the 
roots of another herb (^Oicuta maculaia^ L ), of which he ate, and on returning to 
his house he cut off pieces, of which he and the different members of his family 
partook. They had no sooner sat down to supper than Mr. Jones leant back, and 
fell from his chair in a spasm, and in a few minutes more others of the family were 
taken ill. Being from home when sent for, I did not reach the patients till about 
ten o'clock in the evening (five or six hours after the first seizure), and in a few 
* minutes afterwards, Dr. Chanonhouse, of Shannonville, who had also been sent for, 
arrived. We found Mr. Jones in spasms, which were subsiding, and most of the 
members of his family were very sick. We carried out the treatment for such 
cases, but seeing that Mr. Jones was sinking, we complied with his wife's request 
than another medical man should be sent for. All our efforts failed, and the man 
died in about twenty hours after partaking of the poison. By the vigorous use of 
emetics and other remedies, the three other members of the family who had par- 
taken of the poison were restored. The surviving members described to me their 
sensations. They first felt a deathly sickness and sinking feeling in the regions of 
the heart and stomach, then extreme weakness of the lower limbs, followed by ge- 
neral weakness, in consequence of which they were unable to stand ; but all the 
while they knew perfectly well all that was being said or done. Even Mr. Jones, 
although unable to speak, would open his eyes when requested to do so, and would 
occasionally observe what was being done as though he knew all about it : but on 
account of the remarkable dilation of the pupils, he could only keep his eyes open a 
moment at a time. I never saw the pupils more, if as much, dilated, even by 
Atropa for the operation of cataract. There was also a twitching or throwing of 
the legs. Deceased's pulse was from 120 to 140 ; breathing variable, from 45 to 58. 
J. D. TROUSDALE, M. D." 
We have here a case, which, but for the timely services rendered by Drs. Trous- 
dale and Chanonhouse, might have resulted in the death of a whole family. 
Dr. Trousdale has determined the plant whose roots were used to be Cicuia 
maculata, L. He has also forwarded specimens of roots, dead stems, and fruit, to 
the Botanical Society, and an examination of these has confirmed the accuracy of 
