The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-12-20

a more threatening danger lies in the
sOrrel family. It's pleasant sournoss IS
due to the presence Of oxalic acid, and
If eaten in large quantities by children.
who often conceive a morbid liking for
it. unpleasant consequences are sure to
ensue
Few people are aware that the pretty
wild carrot" more poetically called
queen AIMS Lace is an exceedingly
poisonous plant-no other than the
"poisOn hemlock." believed to be the
Identical plant which sealed the elO-
uuent lips Of Socrates. In view Of the
abundance of this plant, which is
equally at home in city and country,
its charming flOwerets throwing a
laCe-like mantle over every vacant lot,
and attracting children and adult alike,
it Is well to know that it is poison in
every part, and should be carefully
handled when used for decorative pur-
poses. The water hemlOCk, another
and still more dangerous species, is
eagerly eaten by cattle, with fatal re-
suits a number of cases of poisoning
are on record from eating the roots.
which resemble certain edible tuhcrs
The bulletins referred to recommend
the pulling up of these plants wher-
ever possible as the only means of
their determination.
COCKLE IN THE WHEAT.
Who, seeing the dainty corncocklc.
that pretty pink flower that grows in
the wheat" would dream of its capac-
ity for mischief? Yet it is an especially
dangerous plant, both to man and
beast The seeds are more poisonous
than the other parts of the plant. and
when ground with the wheat in which
they grow are detrimental to the con-
Sumer. Machinery removes these seed
to certain degree. The quantity re-
naming determines the quality Of the
flour It's presence may be detected bv
the small black scales of the ground
seed vessels. Some low grades of flour
contain as high as thirty to forty per
cent of cookie seed, rendering il unfit
Tor CONSUMPTION. 1t is unpleasant to
think how much Of this deleterious
substance finds its way into the human
stomach by means Of the tcmpting
crackers, waters, etc, which adorn the
grocery shelves. Many cases of whole
sale poisoning Of domestic animals
from eating screenings" which were
naturally composed largely Of cookie
seed, are reported.
The sumac family comprises a trio
of pestileut fellows, the poison iyy. the
/ poison oak and the poison sumac.
THE DANGEROUS VINES.
1t is important that every one
| should be able to recognize at a
! glance these unpleasant outcroppings
| of natures bad humors The ivy NAV
| easily be distinguished from it's harm
! less relative, the Virginia creeper.
! which it otherwise closely resembles
| by its having three leaflets in n group
| instead of five. The poison oak has
| also three leaflets, but of oval shane.
| only slightly lobed Both are creep-
ers. The sumac is a shrub, frequent
| ing sWamps and damp places It's
| pinnate leaf resembles those of its
| humber relative by the wayslde, but
| ltS HOwerS are borne in loose drOoD-
! ing racemes, All three of these pro-
| duce the same eoct on the human skin
| but the first named, the poison ivy
| irhus radiCans), is the most to be
| dreaded and the most widely known
| 1t is only recently that the irritating
| principle has been discovered to be n
| non-Nolatile oil found in all parts Of
! the plant. II cannt be washed off with
| water. The remedy Is a rather weak
| alcoholic solution of sugar of lead.
! externally applied.
This plant is considered the most
| obnoxious I'm the entire list and its ey-
| termination by every possible means
| recommended.
Other noXious plants to be carefully
| handled and used with discretion are
the poke weed, all the laurels, the
! jimson weed, the spurge family, and
others less common, and, therefore,
| less to be dreaded, Most of these Il
is well to know are not dangerous
to the mere touch, and It is sufficient
for the unlearned in plant lore to make
a rule not to inhale excessively, or put
to the lips, any unknown plant, i'm ad-
| dition to those mentioned above.