Poisonous Effects. — The (Enanthe Crocata appears to be the most virulent of the umbelliferous 
plants : for if admitted into the stomach in but a small quantity, it is instantly productive of the most 
violent effects: such as convulsions, frequent hiccough, ineffectual retchings, haemorrhage from the ears, and 
other violent symptoms which terminate in death ; and it is very evident, from the subjoined accounts, that 
“ it exerts an energetic local irritation, and acts powerfully on the nervous system.” 
“ Eight young lads going a fishing to a brook near Clonmell, in Ireland, meeting with a parcel of 
Hemlock Dropwort, and mistaking their roots for those of Water Parsnep, ate a quantity of them. About 
four or five hours after, going home, the eldest, who was almost of maids stature, without the least previous 
disorder, on a sudden fell down backwards, and lay sprawling upon the ground. His countenance soon 
turned very ghastly, and he foamed at the mouth. Soon after, four more were seized in the same manner, 
and they all died before morning. Of the other three, one became mad, but recovered his senses next day. 
Another lost his hair and nails ; and the third escaped without receiving any harm — which perhaps might 
be occasioned by his speedy running two miles after he saw the first young man fall, together with his 
drinking a very large draught of milk warm from the cow, in the midway.” 
C£ M. Charles was called in to attend a whole family who had eaten of the roots of (Enanthe. Momentary 
sensations of an acrid heat, determining to the head ; a pungent burning in the epigastric region, and small 
rose-coloured spots of an irregular shape, extending successively ; such were the symptoms produced by the 
poison. These spots, which did not exceed the level of the skin, first made their appearance on the face, 
then on the breast, and on the arms ; the father alone had the belly swelled out like a balloon. Mucila- 
ginous, and oily medicines, with milk, were successfully administered to them. 
“ Three French prisoners being in the fields near the town of Pembroke, dug up a large quantity of a 
plant (which they took to be wild celery ) to eat with their bread and butter, for dinner. After washing it, 
while yet in the fields, they all three ate, or rather only tasted, of the roots.” 
<£ As they were entering the town, one of them was seized with convulsions. The other two ran and 
sent a surgeon, who endeavoured first to bleed, and then vomit him, but in vain; and he died presently. 
Ignorant of the cause of their comrade’s death, and of their own danger, they gave of these roots to eight 
other prisoners, who all ate some of them with their dinner. A few minutes after, the two who gathered 
the plants were seized in the same manner as the first, of whom one died. The other was bled, and an 
emetic with great difficulty forced down, on account of his jaws being set. This operating he recovered ; 
but was some time much affected with dizziness in his head, though not sick, nor in the least disordered in 
his stomach. The other eight being bled, immediately, were soon well. 
“ What they ate was (E. Aquatica cicutee facie of Lobelius, which grows in plenty all over the country, 
and is called by the inhabitants, five fingered root, and is much used by them for cataplasms for the felon, 
or worst kinds of whitlow. They ate only the root, and none of the leaves or stalks.” — Gentleman's Mag. 
1747. p. 321.” 
“Stalpart Van Der Weil, in his Observations, takes notice of the deadly effects to two persons, who 
had eaten these roots, mistaking them for Macedonian parsley. Soon after eating the roots, they were 
troubled with violent heats in the throat and stomach. One of them bled at the nose ; the other was 
violently convulsed. Both of them died ; one in two hours, the other in three.” 
“ The dead bodies of three unfortunate Belgians, belonging to the 82nd Demi-brigade, were brought 
to the principal naval hospital at Brest. They had been deceived by the resemblance which the root of 
(Enanthe crocata bore to one made use of in their own country, and ate a great quantity of it. Its sweetish 
flavour pleased their palates, and contributed to the keeping up of their error. They very soon experienced 
a general uneasiness, nausea, vertigoes, &c. To these symptoms succeeded convulsions, and with such 
rapidity, that they sunk under them in less than half an hour, and before any assistance was given.” 
Morbid Appearance of these Men. — Nothing remarkable on the exterior surface of the body. 
One of these bodies was preserved for four days, and at the end of that time no sign of putrefaction was 
observed : the brain and its membranes were sound, the lungs distended ; their vessels full of black and 
dissolved blood. In the bronchite, trachea, and mouth, was found a frothy and whitish fluid. The lungs 
in one of these bodies presented on their external surface some petechiae ; the cavities of the two circulatory 
systems empty ; the heart sound. The stomach contracted, and inflamed at its extremity (pyloric ?) and 
lesser curvature; its coats thickened ; the intestines puffed up, and their vessels injected; the venous and 
arterial systems distended with a fluid of the same nature, dissolved and blackish : the derangements were 
precisely the same in all three. 
Further accounts of this dreadful poison may be found in Vanderwiel’s Observationum Pariorum, fyc. 
tom. 1 ,p. 182. In the Philosophical Transactions, p. 836, Anno 1758. In Dr. Allan’s Synopsis Medicince ; 
and Boerhaave’s Historia Plantarum; Lug. Bat. p. 79- 
Uses. — Few practitioners now venture to prescribe this plant ; but is said that an infusion of the 
leaves, or three tea-spoonsful of the juice have been successfully administered for some obstinate cutaneous 
diseases. In Westmoreland, the country people apply a cataplasm of the herb to the ulcer which forms in 
the fore part of the hoof in horned cattle, and is called “foul” It sometimes proves diuretic ; but its real 
powers as a remedial agent, are as yet imperfectly understood. 
