Evening star., 1898-09-17
DAVIS TURNER.
POISONOUS PLANTS.
Some of Their Names and Where
They Flourish.
From the Providence Journal.

from the Providence journal.
The number of our poisonous plants is
not very large. Still there are more of such
than is generally supposed. Most people
confine their knowledge of noxlous plants
to the two species Of Rhus, respectively
known as dogwood or poison-oak, and the
poison ivy. These are our only true tactile
poisons, that is, to most persons. Certain
temperaments seem liable to injury from
Strawberries, the wild carrot, and, we have
been told, even from the common daisy.
We who are immune, even from Rhus poi
son, grow skeptical about the effects of
daisies and the like. Still, it never does to
dogmatize. Those who have had children
learn somewhat Of original, and more of
acquired evil We face the facts as we
meet them.
AS in the hothouses the pretty primrose.
Primula obconica, by means of it's hairs,
which clothe stem and leaves, is said to
cause distress to many persons, so, for
similar reasons, well authenticated, do the
two wild species of yellow ladics-slipper.
The thick felt of glandrlar hairs contains a
poisonous oil, acting on the skin as does
the principle Of Rhus. This oil is especial
ly abundant at the time of fruiting. Only
about half the people exposed appear to be
affected by these orchidaceous plants.
The books all tell that the various To-
more especially the Indian tobacco, are
more or less poisonous. Gray says of the
last, plant poisonous and a noted quack
medicine Speaking of the cardinal flower,
Cne of our very handsomeSt herbs. Darling
ton writes: Sometimes used by the In
dian doctors under the name of Highbeiia
probably to distinguish 1t from Low-belia." :"
Says 1indley of Indian tobacco: I'm fair
doses it acts as an emetic, while in excess
s1ve doses it is powerful, active narcotic
poison, causing great prostration, conVul-
sions and death. Serious results have fol-
lowed the injudicious administration of
this drug by so-called medical botanists,
who deny that the plant is a poison" All
very well, but few years ago, at q sum-
mer resort the writer met a reputable doc
tor of the old school, an essential "regu-
lar, who denied in toto the poisonous
properties of the plant. He said no had not
only given, but taken it in large doses, and
would eat all we would pluck. Such testi-
mony staggers one to this degree only, that
thereafter we view the plant as we do even
innocent snakes, a little warily.
A very dangerous plant, from the fact
that its root may be dug up in mistake for
something else. is the American white
hellebOre, Feratrum vivide. In early spring
along broOksides, or in open, wet sWales
It's elegant plated green leaves, in huge
tufts, are seen poking out of the ground.
Its greenish homely, liliaceous flowers
come much later, when the plant is several
feet il height The effect of the root is
iyze the spinal cord and heart. The COM
mon name of sneeze-weed refers to the
popular belief that to smell 1t will cause
uncomfortable sneezing. In case Of injury
emetics should be promptly resOrted to, fol-
lowed by coffee or strong spirit. "a physi-
clan should give ether and opium hypoder-
mfcally. The feet end hands must be kept
warm, and the patient should lie flat on the
back to prevent attacks of vertigo"
Another common swamp plant, as dan
gerous or more so, is the water hemlock
Cicuta maculata. It belongs to the parsley
family, grows rank and tall, with spotted
stems of general purplish hue, ample,
much-compounded leaves and umbes of
small white flowers. The poisonous prop
erty resides in the stem, root and leaves.
1t is one of the most dangerous Of our ma
tive plants. 1t affects alike both men and
animals. Says one of our government bot
anists. Prof. Chestnut: The underground
parts are the most poisonous, and are es-
peciahy dangerous, because they are often
washed or frozen out of the soil and thus
exposed to view. Children mistake them
for horse radish, parsnipS. artlchOkes. sweet
ciCely and other edible roots Cattle some
times eat the tubers. and in marshes they
are poisoned by drinking water contami-
mated by the juice of roots which have been
crushed by being trampled upon No esti-
mate can be made of the amount Of damage
done to live stock, but it is very consider
able The plant produces vomiting, col
lcky pains, staggering, uncOnSciOuSneSs and
death. No chemical antidOte is known.
Chloroform and choral have been used to
combat the symptoms. PROBABLY there is
not d swamp anywhere IN the east that,
does not abound with this plant. The true
European poison hemlock, Coui,.m, is not
OF very frequent occurrence; We meet with
1t now and then about our cities. 1t and
FOOLS parsley, als) very poisonous. turn
up on waste places. 1t is a safe rule to
avoid all unbelliferae which one does not
know. At least, try no experiments upon
them.
Another common and quite dangerous
plant on our ash heaps and waste lands ia
the jimson weed, or thorn apple the la
tura Of botanists With it's morning glory
like white or purplsh flowers and large
prlckly pods, 1t is very handsome and even
artistic. Poisonous principles occur in all
parts Of our two common Daturas bur the
seeds are especially dangerous. Hardly a
year passes without the record Of several
fatal cases. Prof. Chestnut reports these
cases in 1897 as follows: AT ADep:L Mich
five children were badly poisoned in August
by eating the seeds of the purple -howered
species, which was cultivated in a garden as
a curiosity under the fanciful trade name of
Night Blooming Cactus. In September q
boy was killed in New York by eating the
seeds of the jimson weed, which was per-
mltted to grow in a vacant lot, his brother
poisoned at the same time, was saved only
with difficulty. In October two other ca ses
occurred in New York. Four children were
playing in one CT the public parns of the
city, where jlmson weeds were growing
luXuflantly. The boys imagined them
selves Indians and roamed about and ate
parts of various plants. Three of tlem ate
the seeds of jimson weed. Cre died in a
state of mild delirium; another was saved
after heroic treatment with choral hydrate
and morphine; the third, who at, but few
or the seeds, was but little affected"
Another plant Of the same nightshade
family, not so dangerous, but stIi to be
avoided. is the vCly pretty climbing bitter
sweet, Solanum dulcamaro. irs blush Gow-
ers resemble those of the pot .'o, and are
succeeded by translucent and very snowy
red berries. The color renders these at
tractiVe TO children |hle the taste is not
sufhciently nauseous to repei them.
In writing the above We have no desire
to pose as an alarmI5t. But there is a real
and an ever-present danger in these and a
lew other plants not here mentioned As
a rule II is well to avoid eating Or tasting
unfamiliar plants, a r=prehensible, childish
hablt surprisingly common. Only this last
winter in one of the writer's own classes u
student was discovered luckily in time.
eating freely Of the seeds OF the ji.nson
weed To energetic rcmons.ranCe he re-
Piled 1T had ever Letn his habit to test all
things. 1t is 4 custom better honored in
the breach than the observance.
Copyright, 1898, Life Publishing Ctmpany1
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