The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1895-08-24
POISON PLANTS.
Some OF Conmou Growth More Dangerous
Than Has Been Supposed.

POISON PLANTS.
Some Of Conmou Growth More Dangerous
Than Has Been Supposed.
The fatal adventure that befell some
boys the other d.y who chewed GER
tain parts Of plants which they thought
were dandelions was an incident of .
kind most unfortunately common.
Only two years ago five school children
at Tarrytown, N. Y, lost their lives
through incautiously eating some roots
which they took for sweet flag. In
the latter case it was ascertained by
Mr.. Coville, botanist of the depart
ment of agriculture, that the root In
question belonged to the common
elder, which previously had not been
suspected of being dangerous.
The department of agriculture has
begun an investigation of the poison
GUS plants of the United States, which
is to have special reference to the
chemical and other characteristics Of
such of them as are least known. The
division of botany, under Mr.. Coville,
well try incidentally to separate the
active principles of the poisons of these
plants and to find out to what uses
they may be applied in medicine. 1t
is hoped that in this manner some new
and valuable remedies may be discov-
cred. The poisons will be tried on
guinea pigs and other animals for ex-
detrimental purposes.
One very important group of poison
Gus plants. concerning the toxic prop
critics of which very little has been
known until recently. includes certain
laurels and rhododendrons. In 1890
many cases of poisoning occurred in
Philadelphia, which was traced to cer-
tain honey and to the eating of the
flesh of ruffed grouse. It was proved
that the grouse had fed on the buds of
the broad-leaved laurel, and it was
more than suspected that the honey
was derived by bees from the blossoms
of the same tree. Several deaths oc-
Cured at @his time from the cause
mentioned, so that the sale of ruffed
grouse was prohibited in the markets
of the Quaker City.
Recently the broad-leaved laurel has
been analysed by Dutch scientist
named Plugge and by an American
named Lasche, who have obtained
from it the same poison as that which
characterizes the rhododendron OF the
Black sea. From this rhododendron
comes the honey which is called by the
Persians ''delli kal" or mad honey. I"
The honey of the region of the Black
sea has been known for thousands of
years as possessing toxic properties.
1t is found chiefly in Trebizond, and is
used there for medicine and also to in
crease the intoxicating effects OF
liquor. For tho latter purpose it is
sold in Constantinople. In large
quantities it is very dangerous.
During the historic retreat of the ten
thousand, of which Xenophon wrote,
the soldiers encamped in Trebizond
and found wild honey in abundance.
They partook of it freely, and it made
them very sick. Even the dogs that
ate it suffered from severe symptoms.
The rhododendron was suspected at
the time of being at the bottom of the
mischief. Plugge has made a general
and comprehensive investigation OF
this group of "ericaceous" plants which
includes the laurels and rhododen.
drons, and he finds that half of them
are poisonous. Lambs and young
cattle eat them in winter for lack OF
other green food and died. The SO
called ''lambkill" is ono of the laurels.
The trailing arbutus is one of the
same family, but is not poisonous.
Poison is found in the broad-leaved
laurel, the narrow-leaved laurel and
also in the mountain laurel, which is q
large-leaved rhododendron.
Deer feed on these plants with impu.
nifty, and likewise the ruffed grouse.
Thus it comes about that the flesh Of
ruffed grouse often poisons people
Dogs fed on the intestines of deer that
have eaten the plants are poisoned
The toxic agents act upon the respira
tory centers, interfering with the
breathing, and in severe cases stop
Ding it altogether. No antidote il
known. 1t is only possible to try and
control the symptoms Asmudge made
Of the leaves of the mountain laurel
for the purpose of keeping OF insects
has been known to cause poisoning. -
Washington Star.