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CICUTA  MACULATA,  LINNE. 
By  Augustus  S.  Blackman,  Ph.G. 
Contribution  from  the  Chemical  Laboratory  of  the  Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy. 
No.  1 19. 
This  plant  is  known  under  the  common  names  of  Water  Hemlock, 
Spotted  Cowbane,  Beaver  Poison,  etc.  It  is  found  throughout 
eastern  United  States,  and  flowers  during  July  and  August.  The 
stem  dies  down  after  fruiting,  but  a  bud  and  new  tuberous  roots  are 
formed  from  a  lateral  branch,  and  a  new  stalk  rises  from  these  the 
following  spring. 
The  root  is  oblong,  fleshy,  of  a  brownish  color,  with  from  three 
to  eight  thick  fleshy  branches  which  grow  in  an  oblique  or  horizon- 
tal direction.  The  interior  of  the  root  is  yellowish  white,  and  con- 
tains many  cavities,  which  are  probably  formed  by  absorption  of  the 
tissue  ;  this  is  an  important  characteristic,  and  is  best  seen  in  longi- 
tudinal section. 
The  odor  is  aromatic,  resembling  that  of  parsnip. 
The  taste  is  aromatic  and  sweetish,  with  an  acrid  after-taste.  On 
cutting  a  cross  section  of  the  fresh  root  a  yellowish,  resinous  liquid 
is  observed  issuing  from  a  zone  of  resin  cells. 
A  number  of  cases  of  poisoning  have  at  various  times  been 
reported,  due,  no  doubt,  to  this  root  having  been  mistaken  for  that 
of  the  parsnip,  or  of  sweet  cicely. 
For  the  following  investigation  a  quantity  of  the  roots  of  cicuta 
was  collected  in  July  and  allowed  to  dry,  and  about  three  months 
afterwards  a  portion  of  the  finely  powdered  drug  was  submitted  to 
analysis  with  the  following  results : 
Solvent  Used.  Substance  Obtained.  Per  Cent. 
f  Volatile  oil,    .  .  .  -068 
Petroleum  ether,  ]  Fat.  '54° 
j  Wax,  -376 
'   '984 
Stronger  ether,   Brown  resin,  ...  1  -380 
Absolute  alcohol,   Resin,  ,   1-996 
f  Mucilage,    .  .  .  .  1  *ooo 
I  Dextrin,  1*500 
Distilled  water,  .  -j  Glucose>  3-555 
^Extractive,     .  .  .  2*445 
r  Pectin,  1*500 
Dilute  solution  of  sodium  hydrate,  .  .  \  Extractive,  .  .  .  .  1  -ooo 
8-500 
2-500 
