18 BULLETIN 69, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
Viri altitudinem eminxit: mox terribili aspectu, cum omnium sensuum abolitione con- 
vulsusfuit, osarctissime clausit, ut nulla arte aperiri valuerit, dentibus stridebat, ocu- 
lus mire distorquebat, sanguis ex auribus promanabat: circa praecordia tumidum quod- 
dam Corpus pugni virilis magnitudine, Patris afflicti manum & miserandi Pueri prae- 
cordia, maxime circa Cartilaginem ensiformem, validissime feriebat: singultiebat crebro: 
Vomiturus -quandoque videbatur, nihil tamen ore arctissime clauso ejicere valuit: 
artus mire jactabat & torquebat, saepius caput retrorsum abripiebatur, totumque 
dorsum incurvabatur in arcum, ut puellus subtus per spatium inter dorsum & stratum 
inoffense repere potuisset. Cessantibus convulsionibus per momentum matris opem 
imploravit: mox pari ferocia illis redeuntibus nulla vellicatione, nulla acclamatione, 
nullove alio ingenio excitari poterat, donec viribus deficientibus expalluit, & manu 
pectori admota exspiravit. Durarunt haec Symptomata vix ultra horam dimidiam. 
Not only is this a vivid and accurate description of the symptoms 
of Cicuta poisoning, but it has a touch of pathos in the call of the 
child for assistance from his mother. 
Since the time of Wepfer a large number of descriptions of the 
symptoms of this form of intoxication have been written, most of 
them being cases of the poisoning of man. There is preat uniformity 
in these descriptions, the difference being mainly in the greater or 
less stress laid upon particular phases of the symptoms. In minor 
particulars there has been some contradiction, but this is no more 
than would be expected, for it is inevitable that among such a large 
number of observers some would make inaccurate statements. 
The symptoms of the lower animals are like those in man, only less 
marked because of the less susceptible nervous system. 
The generally recognized symptoms are as follows: 
Pain, especially in the region of the stomach; but it may be quite general in char- 
acter. 
Nausea, leading sometimes to violent vomiting; at others, to spasmodic attempts at 
vomition without result. 
Generally diarrhea and polyuria. 
Dilated pupils. 
Labored, stertorous breathing, at times irregular. 
Sometimes, frothing at the mouth. 
Pulse weak, intermittent, and rapid. 
Temperature observations have been made in only a few instances, 
probably due to the fact that most of the recorded cases occurred 
before the use of the clinical thermometer was common among 
medical men. According to French, 1866, there is elevation of 
temperature. 
The convulsions are most violent, both tetanic and clonic, accom- 
panied by gnashing of the teeth and trismus, and in violent cases, 
as in Wepfer’s story, by opisthotonos. These convulsions may be 
accompanied or followed by unconsciousness, and in fatal cases grow 
more violent until ended by death. 
