The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-08-05
Common Poison Plants.

countries. Yet 1t contains Il greater
number which may prove fatal If their
foliage or berries are eaten than is gen.
orally supposed, and their variety has
been increased by many foreign spe-
cies, originally introduced for medcin-
al or ornamental purposes, which have
now become common in gardens and
on the roadsides. Although the fol-
lowing list Is far from containing all
those which are hurtful, 1t comprises
Gus kinds. Nature, however, appears
TO have provided against their improp-
err use flor they have proper uses, near
ly all of them being valuable as medi-
cines) by giving to them acrid, disa-
yreeable tlavors; yet these properties
will not always hold good, and parents
should warn their children never to
taste leaves or berries with which they
are not well acquainted,
The deadly nightshade (Atropa bella
donna) has branching habit, and its
leaves are from four to five inches in
width, and sometimes ten inches long.
1t produces large, pendant, bell.shap-
I'd flowers in June or July, whose color
is of a brownish purple, and IN Septem-
Der Ii Is covered with beautiful, glossy
LACK bcrriea. larger than wild cherries.
The whole plant IL covered with fine
down, and 1t Is more or less tinged with
lQ T. IA nj
but the berrieb are especially so, and
on account of this quality Its first Latin
name has been given, after Atropos,
one of the fates. 1t is said to have been
called belladonna beautiful LADY, be-
cause visions of lovely women float be-
fore the perturbed senses of those who
have been poisoned by it. The juice of
these berries, when applied to the eye,
has the effect OF dilating the pupil, and
some ladies have been known to resort
to this most dangerous method of in
creaslng their personal charms. 1t is
related by Scottish historian that
after truce had been made with Sweyn
the treacherous Scots mixed the juice
of the deadly nightshade berries with
the provisions they had undertaken to
supply, and destroyed hundreds of the
Danish army while under its stupefy-
Ing influences. When this poison has
been taken, give strong emetic of
mustard water q teaspoonful to half q
tumblerful of warm water or apply the
stomach pump, and then give weak
vinegar, wineglassful for an adult.
For cancers it is known to give relief,
and 1t Is favorte medcament with
the hom@pathist.
Woody nightshade (Soanum dull
camaral has no resemblance to the
deadly nightshade in its habit, being a
vine which covers bushes, hedges and
fences. 1t is very common, and bears
,>purple flower with yellow centre
II berries have somewhat the appear
anc. y Of red currants, and would often
be MI staken by children for that fruit
Their sate when eaten Is first bitter,
and then sweet, and they produce vom-
iting, pur. ying and commissions. The
pleasing apl 'earance of these berries
makes them very attractive, yet they
are dangerous.
Garden nightshade (Solanum nj
grum) grows about rubbish and COM
post heaps. and sentts up stalk about
foot high, with flowers little like the
potato, while its berries are round and
black. Its fruit and leaves contain q
strong narcotic poison.
The thorn apple (Datura Stramoni-
um) is of native growth found chiefly
upon rubbish heaps. and growing about
two feet In height, with large, white
flowers, in odor resembling tho poppy.
but ils taste is bitter All parts Of this
plant are highly narcotic and poison
Gus, speedy death ensuing if its seeds
he cut up, dried and smoked for the
relief of asthma.
The woifsbanes (Aconltum napellus
and A. lycoctonum) are well known in
nur gardens. The stems rise from two
Ia three feel in height, with blue OF
yellow fowers Wolfsbane Is account
ed the most violent of vegetable polls
ohs. one drachm of the root, ii Is said,
will Kill strong man, while even in
haling the odor of the flowers has been
known to cause fainting fits, and loss
of sight for day or two Many deaths
are on record from its effects. The root
when first chewed has an acrid taste
then tremor, chillness and stupor will
come on, followed by terrible convul.
sIons, dellrium. violent purging and
cold sweats. nearly always ending in
death The chief use of wolfsbane Is
for fevers and rheumatism, and it IL
used by both schools of medicine with
good result
III. wild parsley or water drnpworl
fnanthe crocatai VIII, ii taken in suf
lcienl quantities, produce fatal lock,
jaw. 1t IL found on the banks of river.
and bitches, and throws up Il stalk
about two feet high. of a yellowish RED
hue. The flower resembles that Of Gel
cry, and is produced In June or July
Many serious instances of poisoning by
the roots of this plant are recorded Tht
goat, however, can feed upon its leave,
without injury. In cutaneous diseases
the Juice has been found TO be Of servic,
II taken In very small doses.
The water hemloek. cowbane (Cicuts
virOsal produces tetanic oonvulsions
aud death usually ensues on the THIRD
day. II is found on the borders o
pools, litches aud rivers, and resembles
the common hemlock. but has not, Xix,
1t, spotted stem, nor nauseous smell
but Is more like narsleY or smellage L