OXALIS CAP RINA.— GO AT’S -ROOT WOOD SORREL. 
Class X. DECANDRIA.— Order IV. PENTAGYNIA. 
Natural Order, OXALIDE.dE. THE WOOD-SORREL TRIBE. 
The Cape of Good-Hope, the most fertile source of curious and beautiful plants, affords numerous species 
of Wood Sorrel, and among others the present one, which is distinguished for the largeness of its blossoms ; 
they are of a fine yellow colour, and when expanded by the influence of the sun, make a very conspicuous 
figure in the green-house ; it begins to flower early in April, and continues about two months in bloom, 
many flowering stems arising from the same root. 
This species is of free growth, and increases plentifully by bulbs, which are produced on the crown of 
the root as well as on its fibres ; these when the plant decays should be taken up, and two or three of the 
largest planted in the middle of a pot filled with a mixture of bog earth and rotten leaves, well incorporated ; 
towards winter the pots should be placed in the green-house, or in a frame so secured as perfectly to keep 
out frost. 
Toxicologists (says Dr. Taylor on Poisons, p. 523) have not enumerated these plants among vegetable 
poisons ; they have been commonly treated as pot-herbs. Wibmer states that they have a slightly irritant 
action on the stomach. Mr. Hanks has reported two cases, in one of which very serious symptoms were 
induced in a child who had eaten common sorrel (Rumex acetosa). A child, eetat. 6, suddenly lost his 
appetite, complained of sickness and heaviness in the head, and soon afterwards fainted. When he recovered 
he w r as unable to stand, and vomited a quantity of greenish- coloured matter. Insensibility came on with 
convulsions of the extremities. The cause of his illness was not then suspected, and the patient continued 
to suffer for several days, complaining of soreness of the epigastrium, and pain extending from the fauces to 
the stomach. There was also great thirst, and he occasionally vomited green vegetable matter. He reco- 
vered under treatment in about ten days. In the second case the patient suffered chiefly from severe pain 
in the bowels. The symptoms were soon relieved by the action of an emetic — which in this, as in all other 
cases of vegetable irritant poisoning, is the appropriate remedy. (Med. Gaz. vol. xl. page 69). 
It appears somewhat difficult to refer these effects to the small quantity of binoxalate of potash present 
in these plants, yet, as in other instances, the recent vegetable may have a more powerful action than the 
quantity of the poisonous salt actually contained in it, would indicate. In the first of the two cases it was 
remarked by Mr. Hanks that four leeches which were applied to the skin, dropped off dead. A similar fact 
has been observed in poisoning by oxalic acid. This gentleman refers to a case of recent occurrence in Bath, 
in which the plant proved fatal to a child. Sorrel was found in its stomach, the lining membrane of which 
was injected and diffusely tinged. 
Analysis. — The leaves and shoots of these plants admit of identification only by their botanical cha- 
racters. If the quantity eaten be large, binoxalate of potash may be separated from the contents of the 
stomach by making a decoction. This must be filtered hot, as six-sevenths of the salt are precipitated from 
a hot solution by cooling. 
“There is in Professor Kalm’s Travels in North America, an account given of a species of Sumach called 
the poison-ash. Of this tree you may have perhaps heard, as its noxious qualities are supposed to have 
suggested the many tales that formerly obtained belief respecting the upas-tree. The shadow of this tree 
was said to cast death or sickness upon all over whom it fell ; and every living creature who unwisely wan- 
dered under it was reported to fall an almost immediate victim to its dangerous properties. Several species 
of Sumach are planted in England, but the Rhus toxicodendron will not, I believe, flourish in our country, 
although it has been successfully cultivated in France, and used there medicinally. 
“ An incision being made into the tree,” says the Professor, “ a whitish-yellow juice, which has a nause- 
ous smell, comes out between the bark and the wood. This tree is not known for its good qualities, but 
greatly so for the effect of its poison, which, though it is noxious to some people, yet does not in the least 
affect others ; and therefore one person can handle the tree as he pleases, — cut it — peel off the bark — rub it, 
or the wood, upon his hands — smell it — spread the juice upon his skin, and make more experiments with no 
inconvenience to himself ; another person, on the contrary, dares not meddle with the tree while its wood is 
fresh ; nor can he venture to touch a hand which has handled it, nor even to expose himself to the smoke of 
