The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-07-05
Pois,nnuS Roots

Tho recent death of five school-boys at
TarrytoNn, New York. from eating
root when they supposed 10 De swe e,,d
fag calls attention in a very tragic ana
painful way TO the presence OF poisonous
plants in our woods and neldS. just what
The root really was | have not dennlteIy
learned A medical journal commenting
on the case supposes that II was the very
common plant known as pOlson-iVy OF
poison-oak (Rhus tOxicodendron) Ny Own
opinion would be that 1t was more proba-
bly, either the water-hemlock tGlcuta
maculata) or the American helieDore
(Veratrum viride), both OF which are pol
sonous plants that grow. Ike the harm
less sweet-fiag, in moist iocailt,es. but
perhaps II is not so important TO lrarn
what plant killed the unfortunate lads
as TO remember that the fatal root was
so palatable that the boys ate II eagerly.
That a root or other vegetable product
may be pleasant 10 the taste ana YET
contain n deadly poison is a very lmpor-
tant thing to know.
Fortunately not many OF our native
plants possess this very dangerous COM
bination of qualities. OF those that 40
perhaps the most dangerous is the water
hemlock, already mentioned TINS Is
rank weed. growing commonly In moist
localities. It's fieshy roots have a plea
SAINT aromatic ts~le, bur are Vlrultnliy
poisonous. To add TO the danger there
is a closely-related plant, called sweet
liar localities, and much resembles
the water-hemiock, but which has a root
that is both palatable and wholesome.
through mistaking one Of 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 Grim
inals, and sometimes, as in the case Of
Socrates and Phocion. their philosophers.
These deadly hemlocks belong to the
same family with the parsnip. carrot. and
celery. all three of which vegetables are
poisonous in their native state ana have
only become wholesome through cultiva-
ton. Even now the parsnip sometimes
develops poisonous principles If allowed
to become too old before being pulled.
The hellebore is also common plant
growing in Doggy places. 1t is a, lily
pect the relationship, with broad plated
leaves that clasp the stem at their base.
The poisonous properties of this plant
were well known 10 the Indians, VINO are
said to have sometimes used II in select
ing 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 me
hellebore is often called "lndian-poke. >.
1t is also sometimes called "crow-plant,
because the early settlers scattered corn
STEPPED in n decoction OF hellebore over
their fields to poison crows.
The aconites are another tribe OF com
mon and very dangerous plants. A few
weeks ago a family on Long Island suffer
ed from eating the roots OF one OF these
plant. We have several native species. but
none of these Is as well known as me
monk hood" which has come TO us
from Europe This plant has a histori-
cal interest, as its poison was used on
arrow heads in primitive warfare. and in
the execution of criminals In more civil
liZed communities. In some countries II
a nd hence
II Is often called "wolfsbane."
We are also indebted 10 Europe for
several other common plants that are
very poisonous. IN particular, the fox
glove Qgitalis purpurea), the deadly
nightshade tAtropa beIla-donna). the hen
bane Q1yoscyamus niger, and the stram-
onium Oatura stramonium). TIE last
named is a very common roadside weed.
having a large tubular white flower. 1t
is commonly called jamestown weed.
often corrupted to ''jimsen-weed." this
name having It's origin in an incident of
the early history of Virginia Some SOL
diers who had been sent IL jamestown.
10 quell the rebellion OF Bacon. were poi
sOned by eating a salad made of young
shoots of the stramonium. The deadly
nightshade must not be COMPOUNDED with
our charming lilies called dropping night
shades Crrilliums) which are plants of
far better repute.
j have mentioned only the commoner
plants whose poisons are most virulent.
a long list might be added of plants in
some degree poisonous, but the effects OF
which are seldom fatal Perhaps the
most common of all, and certainly the
most generally known. is the poison-ivy,
an ivy at all. but a climbing sumac
Rhus) This plant has the unenviable
distinction of being poisonous TO the
touch. Fortunately 1t does not affect all
handle it with impunity.-Harper's Young
People.