40 
acquainted. For persons with only a slight knowledge of fungi to try 
new species is hardly worth the danger. Dr. Cooke’s popular work 
on fungi will help us to distinguish many, but these remarks are 
intended only for those who have no special botanical knowledge. 
Plants which have been eaten by childken by accident. 
As several cases quite recently have come under our personal view 
in this division, we must briefly mention a few dangerous plants. 
Yew (Taxus baccata). A most attractive and dangerous plant, 
which is accountable for many victims. The red covering of the berry 
is harmless, but the kernel or seed is very poisonous. A fatal case 
occurred at Lubbenham, Leicestershire, in 1892, of children eating 
the young shoots in the spring. 
Laburnum (Cytisus laburnum). Both seeds, flower and bark have 
caused fatal results, children seem specially attracted by the shining 
vetch like seeds. We ourself have made children throw the flowers 
out of their mouths. 
The Bryony (.Bryonia dioca). The red berries, in the autumn, of this 
plant have been taken by children, red seems to have a fatal attraction, 
no warning colour for them. 
The Spindle Tree (Emmymu.s eurnpaeu. s), from which the gypsies 
make their bunches of wooden skewers, is another handsome shrub 
with large bunches of bright crimson berries, these are decidedly 
dangerous. 
The Holly (Ilex aquifolium). The berries are dangerous, and a case 
of serious illness is recorded through eating them. 
The Guelder Rose or Snowball Tree (Viburnum upulus). The red 
berries are dangerous, a fatal case is recorded by Stevenson. 
The Privet (Liyustruin rulyare). The black berries of the autumn 
have killed children, and the shoots are exceedingly dangerous. 
Common Nightshade (Solatium dulcamara) before mentioned, the 
red berries have poisoned children. 
The Mezerion or Daphne (l)aphnr mezereum), the earliest dower¬ 
ing of our garden shrubs, pink blooms appearing before the leaves, the 
red berries are most dangerous, many cases of children taking them 
have occurred. 
The Deadly Nightshade (Atropa belladonna). The luscious-looking 
berries and flowers have caused several deaths, fortunately this plant 
is by no means generally common, although on the Cotswolds and in 
Hertfordshire it is not scarce in places. The berries have been sold 
in London streets for fruit, and, as might be expected, killed the 
children eating them. 
Herb Paris (Paris quadrifolia) a common plant in some woods, 
Stephenson and Churchill record a case of a child being killed through 
eating the berries. 
The Mountain Ash (Sorbus aucuparia) a curious case occurred at 
Oadby, Leicestershire, in July, 1893. A child aged five swallowed a 
lot of the berries, and subsequently died. At the inquest the medical 
evidence was to the effect that death was caused through irritation 
caused by eating the berries followed by convulsions. The seeds are 
very rough and setup inflammation, death ensued from the mechanical 
action, and it was given in evidence that the berries are not poisonous. 
Everyone knows that the bark, roots, flowers and young leaf-buds of 
