Blyth who has studied records of poisoning in Europe states that there have been cases of murder, suicides, and many more or less accidental deaths. In two of these cases children met death by chewing the flower. All parts of our species are poisonous but the seeds and roots are especially potent. The exact nature of the lethal substance is not yet known to science, and there is no specific antidote available at the present time. However, physicians have used atropin and amyl-nitrate.
Artificial respiration is often necessary during treatment.
From the above, one can readily see the danger which lurks in one of our most beautiful plants. Ranger Naturalist Tourists who are interested in rock collections usually find the display of vesicular lava in the museum at Crater Lake National Park fascinating. These forms of lava are known as pumice stone and volcanic scoria. In physical appearance both are closely related since each is very porous. However, the color of pumice is usually very light while that of scoria varies from red to black.