St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1894-07-19

danger there is a closely related
plant, called the sweet-cicely, that
grows in similar localities. and
much resembles the water-hemlock,
but which has n root that is both
persons have lost their lives through
mistakina one at these plants for the
other. Another related plant that
now grows commonly here. having
been introduced from Europe, is the
poison-hemlock (Conium maculata).
the plant that furnished the poison
with which the ancient Greeks killed
their capital criminals, and some
times as in the case of Socrates and
Phocion, their philosophers. These
deadly hemlocks belong to the same
ia n1ily with the parsnip, carrot, and
celery, all three of which vegetables
are poisonous in their native state,
and have only become wholesome
through cultivation. Even now the
parsnip sometimes develops poison
Gus principles if allowed to become
too old before being pulled.
The hellebore is also a common
plant, growing in Doggy places. 1t
/
anist would suspect the relation
ship, with broad plated leaves that
clasp the stem at their base. The
poisonous properties OF this plant
were we'll known to the Indians,
who are said to have sometimes used
it in selecting their chiefs-the man
who could take most of the poison
with impunity being regarded as
strongest and best qualified to lead.
| On account of this tradition the
hellebore is often called Indian
poke" 1t is also sometimes called
''crow-p plant" because the early set
! tiers scattered corn stepped IN de-
cOction of hellebore over their fields
to poison crows.
The aconites are another tribe Of
common and very dangerous plants
A few weeks ago family on Long
Island suffered from eating the roots
of one of these plants. We have sew
eral native species, but none of these
is as well known as the monk S
hood" which has come to US from
Europe. This plant has historical
interest, as its poison was used or
rrow-heads In primitive warfare
and in the execution Of criminals II
more civilized communities. II
some countries it was used to poison
wolves, and hence it is often calle'
"wolfsbane."
We are also indebted to Europe TO
several other common plants tina
are very poisonous, in particular tn
foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), tn
deadly nightshade (Atropa bella
donna), the henbane (Hyoscyamu
niger and the stranonium (Daturt
stranoniu1n). The last-named is ;
very common roadside weed, havin:
a large tubular white flower. 1t i
commonly called Jamestown weed
often corrupted to Jimsen-weed,
this name having its origin in an &C
cident of the early history of Vii
ginia. Some soldiers who had beel
sent to Jamestown, to quell the re
belliOn of Bacon, were poisoned b.
eating a salad made of young shoot
of the stramonium. The deadl.
nightshade must not be confounde,
with our charming lilies Gale
dropping Magistrates (Trilliums)
which are plants of far better repute
l have mentioned only the CON
moner plants whose poisons ar
most virulent. A long list might b
added of plants in some degre
poisonous. but the effects of whic
are seldom fatal. Perhaps the mos
common of all, and certainly til
most generally known, is the poison
. ivy, already referred to, which reall
5 is not an ivy at all. but climbin
sumac (Rhus). This plant has tn
: unenviable distinction of bein
: poisonous to the touch. Fortunat
t ly it does not affect all persons, how
E ever, some being able to handle
2 with impunity.- Harper's Youn
: | PeODle