chesnut-principal poisonous plants of the us

8/6/2019 Chesnut-Principal Poisonous Plants of the US

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w!S2. Bulletin No. 20.U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.DIVISION OF BOTANY.

PRINCIPAL POISONOUS PLANTSOF

THE UNITED STATES.

V. K. CHESNUT.

WASHINGTON:GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.1898.


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-^'A3^2,Bulletin No. 20.

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.DIVISION OF BOI'ANY.

94.

PRINCIPAL POISONOUS PLANTS

THE UNITED STATES,

v.'k. chesnut.

WASHINGTON:GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.1898.D =?^

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LETFER OE TRANS]\nTTAL

U, S. Department of Agrioultube,DivitîoN OF Botany,

Washington, I). C, December .?(), 1897.Sir: I liave tlie lioiior to trausniit liorewitli for publication as a

bulK'tin of this division a mauuscript ou the "Principal PoisonousPlants of the United States." In the annual report of the Botanist for1894 was emphasized the importance of doing something to lessen theincreasing number of fatal cases of poisoning due to carelessness or toa lack of correct knowledge of our poisonous plants, and as a result theSecretary of Agriculture, in ISTovember, 1804, âppointed Mr. Y. K.Chesnut as an assistant in the Division of Botany to take charge ofsuch a line of work. In addition to the chemical and physiologicalinvestigations which have since been in progress, it has seemed desira-ble to distribute at once some simple but authoritative accouut of ourcommonest poisonous plants. In the prosecution of this work a novelmethod of securing correct information about actual cases of i)oisoninghas been adopted. Through newspaper clii)ping bureaus the Divisionof Botany receives notices of all the cases of ])oisoning that are recordedin the principal newspapers. Then, through the jiersons mentionedby name in these articles or through the local postmaster, we get intocorresiiondence with the physician in charge of the case, secure a speci-men of the plant which is resi)onsible for the poisoning, and place oufile a complete record of the symptoms, treatment, and results. Bythis means we have secured a large amount of authentic and valuableinformation, additional to the published statements, the partial benefitof which is given to the iêople in this i)ublication, and the remainderof which will be used from time to time in more detailed iûblicationson the poisonous qualities of iîrticular plants.The plants which have been considered, about fifty in number, includemost of the important poisonous species. Each is illustrated, wherevernecessary, by an original drawing from authentic specimens, and isbriefiy described in a popular way. This, together with the liberaluse of common names and a brief outline of the geographical distri-bution, will doubtless enable individuals in different localities to recog-nize any of the plants. For general educational purposes it has beenthought best to follow the scientific classification.

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It is the puri)ose of the Division of Botany to collect statistics andgeneral inl'ormatiou relating to all of the poisonons plants of theUnited States, and so far as possible to examine into their chemicaland physiological properties and to discover their antidotes. Withthis end in view, it is hoped that the heartiest cooperation will bereceived from all those who are able to render assistance.

Kespectfnlly, Frederick Y. Coville,Botanist.

Hon. James Wilson,Secretary of Agriculture.


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CONTENTS,Page.

Introduction 9Gill fnnoi (A^aricaceae) 11

Deadly amanitas ( Aiuauita) 11Fly amanita (Amanita mitscaria) (illustrated).. 12Deatli cup {Amanita phalloidea) (illustrated).. 14

Bunch-flower family ( Melanthaceae) 16Ameiican false hellebore ( Veratrum viride) (illustrated) . 16

Lily of the valley family (Convallariaceae) 18Lily of the valley ( Con vallaria majalis) (illustrated ) . 18Orchid family (Orchidaceae) 19

Lady's slipper (Cypripedium) 19Showy lady's slipper ( CypripedUim reginac) (illustrated) . 19Larger yellow^ lady's slipper {Ci/pripedium hirsutum) . . .(illustrated).. 20Smaller yellow lady's slipper ( Cypripedium parvifloriim) 20Pink family (Alsinaceae) 21Corn cockle {Agrostentma fiithai/o) (illustrated) . 21

Crowfoot ftxmily (Kauunculaceae) 22Aconite (Aconilnm cohimhiannm) (illustrated).. 22

Larkspur ( Delphinium) 23Dwarf larkspur (Delphiniitm tricorne) (illustrated) . 24Larkspur ( Delphiniuni geyeri) 24Larkspur {Delphinium 7ne7icie8ii) 25Larkspur ( Delphinium recurratum )...'. 25Larkspur (Delphinium troUiiJ'oUum) 25

Plum family (Prunaceae) 26Black cherry ( Prunus serotina) (illustrated) . 26Senna family (Caesalpiniaceae) 28Kentucky cotfee tree ((rymnocladus ilioica) (illustrated).. 28

Pea family (Papilionaceae) 29Woolly loco weed (Astragalus jnollissimus) (illustrated) . 29Stemless loco weed (Aragallus lamhertii) (illustrated) . 30Rattlebox (Crotalaria sagittalis) (illustrated).. 31

Spurge family (Euphorbiaceae) 32Spurge (Euphorbia) 32Caper spurge (Eupliorhia lathyris) (illustrated) . 33Snow on the mountain (Euphorbia marginata) (illustrated) . 34Sumac family ( Anacardiaceae) 35

Poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac (Rhus) 35Poison ivy (L'hus radicans) (illustrated) . 35Poison oak (Rhus diversiloha) (illusti-ated).. 36Poison sumac (Rhus vernix) (illustrated) . 36

Buckeye family (Sapindaceae) 39Red buckeye (Aesculus pavia) (illustrated) . 395


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Carrot family (Apiaceae) 40Water hemlock ( Cicuta macidata) (illustrated) . 40Oregon water hemlock {Cicuta vagans) (illustrated).. 41Poisou hemlock ( Conium maculatum) (illustrated) . 43Heath family (Ericaceae) 44Broad-leaf laurel (Kalmia latifoUa) (illustrated) . 44Narrow-leaf laurel {Kalmia angustifolia) (ilhistrated) . 46Great laurel ( Rhododendron maximum) (illustrated) . 47Stagger hush ( Pieris inariana) (illustrated) . 48Brauch ivy ( Leueothoe cateshaei) (illustrated) . 48Logania family (Loganiaceae) 48False jessamine ( Gelsemium sempervirens) (illustrated) . 48

Potato family (Solanaceae) - 48Jimson weeds (Datura) 49

Jimson weed {Datura stramonium) ( illustrated) . 49Jimson weed ( Datura tatula) 50Nightshades (Solanum) 51Black nightshade ( Solanum nigrum (illustrated) . 52Bittersweet {Solanum dulcamara) (illustrated) . 53Spreading nightshade {Solanum triHorum) (illustrated) . 53

Sunflower family (Carduaceae) 54Sneezeweed {Helenium autumnale) (illustrated) . 54


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ILLUSTRATIONS.

Page.Fig. 1. Fly amanita ( Jmani/ muscaria) 12

2. Death i-np ( Amatiita phaUoidvs) 153. False helleltore ( J'eratrum viride) 174. Lily of tbe valley ( Convallaria majalis) 185. Showy lady's slipper ( Cifprijmlium reginae) 196. Larger yellow lady's slipper ( Cypripedium MrsHtum) 197. Corn c-ockle {AgrosUmma githaf/o) 218. Aconite (Acoiiitiim columhianinn) 239. Dwarf larkspur ( Delphinium Iricorne) 24

10. Black cherry {Pruniis serotina) 2711. Kentucky coffee tree ( Gymnodadus dioica) 2812. Woolly loco weed {Astragalus molUssimns) 2913. Stemless loco vreed (Aragallus lanihertii) 3014. Rattlebox (Crotalaria sagiitalis) 3115. Caper spurge (Euphorbia Jathyris) 3316. Snow on the mountain {Euphorbia marginata) 3417. Poison ivy {lihus radicans) 3518. Poison oak ( Rhus diversiloba) 3619. Poison sumac {Bh us remix) 3720. Red buckeye {Jiscuhis jKuv'a) 3921. Water hemlock ( Cicuia maculaia) 4022. Oregon water hemlock ( Cicuia vagans) 4123. Poison hemlock {Couinm maculatum) 4324. Broad-leaf laurel ( Kalmia latij'olia) 4525. Narrow-leaf laurel {Kalmia angustifoUa) 4626. Great laurel ( Rhododendron maximum) 4627. Staggerbush ( Pieris mariana) 4728. Branch ivy {Leucothoe catesbaei) 4829. False jessamine ( Gelsemium sempervirens) 4830. Jimson weed ( Datura stramonium 5031. Black nightshade {Solanum nigrum) 5232. Bittersweet {Solanum d\ilcamara) 5333. Spreading nightshade {Solanum trijlorum) 5434. Sneezeweed {Helenium autumnale) 557


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PRINCIPAL POISONOUS PLANTS OF THEUNITED STATES.INTRODUCTION.

In view of the frequent results of ignorance with regard to poisonousplants, whether the occasional loss of human life, the large sacrifice ofanimals, and the consequent financial loss, or the annoyance and dis-tress of countless minor cases of human poisoning, it is remarkablethat no systematic treatise has been published concerning those thatexist in the United States.

Statistics in regard to them are lacking on account of a generalignorance of the subject, and it is therefore impossible to form even anapproximate estimate of the amount of damage done by them. Thevarious species of water hemlock (Cicuta) kill a number of childreneach year. In the State of New Jersey two quadruple cases of waterhemlock poisoning were reported during the spring of 1896, whichresulted fatally to two of the eight individuals affected. The numberof cattle killed by one species of Cicuta in Oregon alone is estimatedto be over one hundred per annum. The number of deaths amongcattle which are attributed to loco weed is very large, and to rid itselfof this pest the State of Colorado paid out nearly $200,000 in bountiesbetween March 14, 1881, and February 18, 1885. On the latter datethe law was repealed. The distress caused by poison ivy is beingconstantly exi^erienced by thousands of individuals.

Setting aside the criminal uses of poisonous i^lants, there are someother legal problems connected with them which are of general publicinterest. The common law of England holds a person responsible fordamage accruing from the possession and cultivation of poisonous plants.In one case, for example, a jury rendered judgment in favor of a plain-tiff whose horse was poisoned from eating branches of a yew whichhung over a fence from an adjoining yard. A similar judgment for$3,500 has recently been rendered by a New York court against thedirectors of a cemetery in a case of poisoning due to poison ivy whichhad been allowed to grow within the grounds.All poisonous plants are not equally injurious to all persons, nor to

all forms of life. The most familiar illustration of this is to be foundin the action of poison ivy. It has no apparent external effect uponanimals, and a few of them, such as the horse, mule, and goat, eat its

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10leaves with impunity. It acts upon the skin of the majority of personsbut with varying intensity. Many people are probably wholly immune,but some lose their resistant power in middle life; others have beenknown to attain immunity from it to a very considerable degree. Thereis a similar variability in the effects of poisonous plants taken internally.The qualifications involved in a definition of a [)oisonous plant arenumerous, and can not well be introduced into this report. It maysuffice here to say that death in some cases is attributable not to anypoison which the plant contains, but to immoderate or incautious eating,or to mechanical injury, such as is produced in horses by the hairs ofcrimson clover, which under certain conditions accumulate in large ballsand obstruct the intestines, or to the effect of parasitic growths, suchas ergot occurring on rye. Neither the clover nor the rye is poisonous.Excluding all wliich operate in these ways, there is, however, a largenumber of really poisonous plants whose ]roperties are comparativelyunknown. Information relating to them is obtainable only from themost diverse sources. Cases of poisoning are described in medicaljournals, communicated by farmers, or simi)ly alluded to in newspapers,and are traceable only through correspondence or personal inspection.Kecords of chemical analyses and toxicological experiments are scat-tered through all kinds of literature. Additional reason for the preva-lent ignorance in regard to these plants is to be found sometimes intlieir limited geographical range, and sometimes in the uncertainty andoften opposite results obtained by unscientific experiments.

In this bulletin it has been found impossible to give an adecjuatetreatment of all of our poisonous plants. Those cultivated in gardens,such as the oleander {Nerium oleander)^ mezereon {Daplmc mezereum),foxglove {Digitalis ptirpnrea), and the species of Narcissus, have beenomitted, as have those wild plants whose poisonons qualities have notbeen investigated at some length. In the latter category are the cock-leburs [Xanthimn sjnnosum, X. strumarium, and A', canadcnse), sleepygrass {Stijya riridnla rohusta), elder {Sambucus canadensis), pimpernel{AnagalUs arvensi's), and Labrador tea {Ledum groenlandicum). Thelimit of space has precluded a more extended treatment of many species,and cut out altogether many of the'fieshy and all of the parasiticfungi.The matter loresented in tbis bulletin has been obtained in part from

published articles or treatises, but most of it has not heretofore beenprinted. Besides the direct information secured through correspond-ence with medical men, scientists, farmers, and others interested incases of poisoning, considerable information has been obtained frompersonal observation and experiment. The writer has had constantrecourse to the valuable treatises of Cornevin, Blyth, Kobert, I3am-mann, Millspaugh, White, and Van Hasselt; to the numerous articlesfound in the various botanical and chemical journals ; and to the medicalliterature indexed in the invaluable catalogue and Index Medicus of


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11the Snrgeon-General's library at Washington. Some assistance hasalso been obtained from the recent special publications of Dr. H. H.Kusby and Prof Byron U. Halsted. The figures, with the exceptionof Kos. 2, 18, and 21, were drawn by Mr. F. A. Walpole, the artist ofthe Division of Botany.

GILL FUNGI (AGARICACEAE).DEADLY AMANITAS.

Amanita.The amanitas belong to the class of plants known as gill fungi

(Agaricaceae), and include most of the plants popularly called toad-stools and mushrooms. Many of these are delicious articles of food,and they are rapidly becoming more and more used for this ]nirpose inthe United States. In appearance none are more attractive than thedeadly amanitas, especially the two which are treated of in this bulle-tin. A few of the 25 or 30 species of this genus are edible, but as fullyone-third are known to contain deadly poisons, and as this is not sogenerally true of any other group, it is important that its characteris-tics should be i)ointed out.The amanitas form the most typical genus of that group of tleshyfungi which is cbaracterized by vertical radiating plates or gills on the

under surface of the cap. In the early stages of growth the amanitasare egg-shaped and are entirely enveloped by a white llocculent cover-ing, which is ruptured as the stem lengthens. In a few species thiscovering adheres in loose, corky patches to the top of the cap, as seenin fig. 1, but sometimes it slips away from the cap entirely and forms amore or less continuous sheathing cup at the base of the stem at thej)oint of enlargement, as shown in fig. 2. This llocculent covering andthe invariably bulbous base of the stem are the most important charac-teristics of the genus, while the different position of the fiocculent cov-ering after rupture helps to distinguish the species. These featuresare well pronounced as a rule, but sometimes it requires some searchingto find the cup.Besides the general envelope there is also a secondary one which at

first covers the gills, extending from the stem outward in all directionshorizontally to the rim of the cap. This breaks away from the capbefore maturity and forms a more or less perfect and conspicuous col-lar about the ui)per i)art of the stem. Except in the case of one si^eciesnoted below, the gills and spores are white. The geographical distri-bution of these fungi is not well known, as comparatively few individu-als have studied them carefully.


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12FLY AMANITA.

Amanita muscaria (L.) Fr.Other names: Fly fungus; flyagaric; fly killer; deadly amanita; false

orange amauita. (Fig. 1.)Description and habitat.A handsome robust species, 4 to IG incheshigh. It is singularly free from larval pests and the usual signs ofdecay, and is highly attractive in appearance, taste, and smell. In itsearly stages the shape of the cap is very strongly convex, but by grad-

FiG. 1.Fly amanita {Amanita muscaria): a, mature plant ; i, top view of cap showingcorky patchesbotli one-lialf natural size

ual expansion it becomes flat and even concave. It is invariably warty.In color it varies from nearly white through all shades of yellow to abright red. As a rule it is more reddish in the center and light yellowoutward, but sometimes the color is uniform throughout. The enlargedbase is marked with short, stubby projections of the epidermis, whichare generally replaced upward along the lower x)art of the stem bysoft flexible shavings, as seen in the figure. The general shape of theplant is very much like that of the orange Amanita {Amanita caesarea),but it differs conspicuously in the absence of a cup and in the posses-sion of white instead of yellow gills and stems. It differs also in usu-


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14tions, by a physician, of some heart stimulant, preferably atropine, indoses of from 1 100 to 1 50 of a grain. As a stimulant emetic, mus-tard is particularly valuable. If this is not effective, apomorphineshould be administered hypodermically by a physician. Tannin is oflittle or no value in rendering the muscarine insoluble in the stomach.If vomiting- has not taken place, recently burned charcoal may beadministered for its mechanical eftect in absorbing the poison, or acouple of grains of permanganate of potash in a 1 per cent alkalinesolution to decompose it. The use of this substance should be followedby oils or oleaginous purgatives, and the lower intestines should bewashed out with an enema of warm water and turpentine. The use ofatropine must be governed by the symptoms, but it is advisable to pushit heroically, for in this alkaloid we have an almost complete physio-logical antidote to the poisonous principles of the fly amanita. Experi-ments on animals poisoned by this fungus and also by muscarineextracted from it have very clearly demonstrated that when the hearthas nearly ceased to beat it may be stimulated almost instantly by ahypodermic injection of atropine. Its use, as thus demonstrated, hasbeen the means of saving numerous lives. Muscarine may be dis-solved out of the fly amanita to a great extent by vinegar, but thepossible existence in the plant of such compounds as phallin (describedunder death cup) makes its use extremely dangerous.The greatest diligence should be observed by market inspectors in

preventing specimens of this and the following species from being acci-dentally mixed with edible species of fungi which are sold in the openmarkets.

DEATH CUP.Amanita phalloides (L.) Fr.

Other names: Poison amanita; bulbous amanita. (Fig. 2.)Description and habitat.This is not so large or brightly colored as the

preceding fungus, but is nevertheless decidedly attractive to the experi-menting and untutored epicure. When fresh, it has neither a dis-agreeable odor nor taste, nor has it any ill appearance due to thepresence of larv;e. It grows from 3 to G or 8 inches high and has asmooth, satiny cap, which is strongly convex at first, finally becoming-flat or slightly concave. It is usually white or straw-colored, but maybe green, light brown, yellow, or even spotted when found growing indense shade. The stem is white and nearly smooth. The flocculentcovering almost invariably slips away from the caj) in this species andforms a more or less conspicuous cup at the base of the stem at thepoint of enlargement, as shown in figure 2. In dry weather it some-times partially adheres to the cap. The cup is, however, invariablypresent. In connection with the white gills and spores and the bulbousbase it is the distinguishing feature of the species. In general shapethe death cup is somewhat like the common mushroom, but it is very


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15mucli more like another species, the smootli lepiota {Lepiota naucina)which is considerably sought after by expert epicures. From the com-mon mushroom the death cup may be at once distinguished by its cup,by its white gills and spores, and by its growing in woods instead of inmeadows. Like the death cup, the lepiota has a smooth, satiny cap,white gills, and white spores, but it is distinguished by the absence ofa sheathing cup and by the ball-and-socket attachment of the stem tothe cap, as well as by its occurrence chietiy in meadows. The deathcup is the most poisonous of all tlie Heshy fungi. It is found usuallyin pine forests, where it often grows in greater abundance than anyother species of fungus. Sometimes, however, it encroaches upon lawnsnear the borders of woods. The plant islisted as growing in California and in vari-ous parts oftheEastern and Middle States.In the vicinity of Washington, D. C, it isexceedingly abundant in late autumn.

Poisonous element.The poisonous con-stituent is phallin, a remarkable com-pound which resembles the white of eggin many of its peculiarities. It is there-fore known as a "toxalbumin." Like thealbumen of egg it is easily coagulated at atemperature somewhat below that of boil-ing water. Boiling decomposes this com-pound and renders it inert. Salt waterdissolves it veiy readily. A large numberof cases of poisoning have been attributedto this fungus in ancient as well as in mod-ern times. In most of them the plant wastaken to be an edible fungus. In a fewinstances the mere handling of the plantcaused serious trouble. A third jiart ofan uncooked medium-sized


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18Other native species.Four other species of Veratrum are native to the

United States, all of which are j)robably poisonous in the same way asthe Eastern species just treated of. All but one of these are, however,more or less local in their distribution and need not be considered here.Veratrum californicum Durand is quite worthy of note. In generalappearance it resembles the Eastern species. The flower cluster is lessslender and more upright in habit, its flowers are white instead of yel-lowish green, and the floral leaves are longer and narrower. The plantis of frequent occurrence in the mountains of California and northwardto British Columbia; also in Nevada and in the Rocky Mountains fromWyoming to New Mexico.

LILY OF THE VALLEY FAMILY (CONVALLARIACEAE).LILY OF THE VALLEY.

Convallaria majalis L.Other names: May lily; May blossom. (Fig. 4.)Description and habitat.A low, smooth, stemless perennial, with two

broad, conspicuous leaves and a centralscape bearing a number of pretty, sweet-scented white flowers. This plant, sowell known in ornamental cultivation, isnative to both Europe and the UnitedStates, but is found in this country in awild state only in the higher AlleghanyMountains of Virginia, North Carolina,and Tennessee. In the latter State itgrows luxuriantly on the humid westernslopes of the Little and Big Frog moun-tains, at an altitude of 3,000 feet.

Poisonous element.The active constit-uent is convallamarin, an extremelypoisonous crystalline compound with abitter and afterwards sweetish taste, anda depressing action on the heart likethat of the common foxglove (Dif/italispurpurea). It is found in all jjarts of theplant, including the flowers. Few casesof poisoning are attributed to it, butthe j)lant is dangerous on account of thebeauty of its flowers. The taste of these,however, is acrid and bitter, and on thisaccount there is much less danger ofchildren eating them. Sheep and goats,it is said, may eat the leaves with impu-

nity, but other animals refuse them.Symptoms and remedies.The emetic and purgative actions of the lily

Fig. 4.Lily of the valley (ConvaUariamajalis), one-third natural size.


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19of the valley are quite marked. Besides these tlie prominent symp-toms to be looked for in cases of poisoning are, at first, diminished, theninfre(iuent and irregular heart action, and finally death from paralysisof the heart. No special antidote is known. The general treatmentshould he like that which would be adoptedfor digitalis poisoning, but varied accordingto the minor symjotoms i)roduced.

Fig. 5. Showy lady's slipper (Cypri-pediumreginae), oue third natural size. Fia. 6.Largeryellow lady's slipper (('uprt-

'pediwa liirsvlvm), one-third natural size.

ORCHID FAMILY (ORCHIDACEAE).LADY'S SLIPPERS.

Cypripedium.Other names: Moccasin fiower; ducks (Pa.); whij)-j)Oor-will shoes(K Y.).Perennial plants with large, conspicuously parallel-veined and i>laited

leaves, and one or a few large, irregular pink and white or yellow flow-ers. The following species may be readily recognized

SHOWY lady's SLIPPEE.Cypripedium reginae Walt.

Other names : Whip-i)oor-will shoes (Conn.); nerve root (ISTew Bruns-wick); female nervine. (Fig. 5.)

Description and habitat.A robust, somewhat hairy plant, 1 to 2 feet


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21PINK FAMILY (ALSINACEAE).

CORN COCKLE.

' Agrosteinma gitkiKjo L.

Other names : Cockle; rose Ciiinpion; bastard nigelle; old maid'spink (N^. H.); mullein pink (Nova Scotia); licbeta (Vt.); crown of thefield. (Fio-. 7.)

Description and habitat.A wliitisb, woolly annual, 1 to o feet high,with an erect stem, showy, violet-red Howers, and numerous rough,black, irregularly-rounded seeds.The corn cockle is a noxious weed in Europe, and in the United

States it is now generally introduced in grain fields from Maine toNorth Dakota, southward througheastern Kansas to Louisiana andFlorida; sparingly in Wyomingand California, and scarcely at allin the dry region extending east-ward from California to Texas andeastern Kansas.

Poisonous constituent.The poi-sonous constituent, saponin, is anoncrystalline powder, very freelysoluble in water, and possessing* asharp, burning taste. It has noodor, but when inhaled in thesmallest quantity it produces vio-lent sneezing. When brisklyshaken with water it froths likesoap. The poison is found innearly all parts of the plant, butmainly in the kernel of the seed.

Causes of poisoning.Cases ofiwisoning have been noted amongall sorts of poultry and householdanimals, but are rarely due to anyportion of the plant as found grow-ing in the field. The poisoning isgenerallyproduced by a poor gradeof flour made from wheat contain-ingcockle seeds. Machinery is usedto remove these seeds from thewheat, but the difficulty of separating them is so great that the result isnot entirely accomplished. The quantity remaining determines the gradeof the flour in this particular regard. It sometimes amounts to 30 or40 per cent, but this quality is sent out only by ignorant or unscrupu-lous dealers or is intended for consumption by animals only. Flour

Fig. 7.Corn cockle (Agrosteunna (jithago) : a,spriiya showing flowers and seed capsule, one-third natural size ; 6, seed, natural size; &', seed,four times natural size.


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24Species.There are over 25 species native to the United States.Few have a very wide distribution, but some of the Western species

are extremely abundant in tlieir native habitat. All share the generalreputation for acridity borne bj- the plants of this order.

Poisonous properties.The seed of the European stavesacre {Delplim-ium staphisaelphinium iricorne Miclix.

Other name : S ta g g e r - w e e(Ohio). (Fig. 9.)

Description and hahitat.Asmooth, simi)le-stemmed peren-nial, 6 to 12 inches higb, with atuberous root, deeply 5-partedleaves, and a long, loose cluster ofblue (sometimes white) flowers,which appear in April and May.It grows in clayey soil and open

woods, from Pennsylvania and the mouiitains of ISTorth Carolina tosouthern Minnesota. It is especially reported from Ohio as fatal tocattle in April, when the fresh leaves appear.

Fig. 9.Dwarf larkspur (Delpliinium tricorneone-tliird natural size.

LARKSPUR.Delpliinium geyiri Greene.

Description and habitat.A somewhat hairy perennial, 10 to 20 incheshigh, with a large spheroidal tuft of rather thick, dull-green leaves, anda central column of deep azure-blue tlowers. A common high prairie


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27plant. Utider certain conditions tliese compounds liberate prussicacid, one of the most deadly poisons. The fresh leaves are generallyconsidered harmless. As they begin to wither, however, the acid isformed, but as this is volatile it disappears from the foliage in a shorttime. These facts thus serve to explain how it is that only thepartially wilted leaves are considered poisonous.Symptoms of poisoning,The prominent symptoms of black cherry

poisoning observed in cattle are labored respiration, diminished pulse,numbness, fright, protruding eyeballs, convulsions, and death fromparalysis of the lungs. In somecases there is considerable froth-ing at the mouth ; in all there isa very perceptible odor of prns-sic acid in the breath.

Remedies.Death comes onrai)idly, but nevertheless it isobligatory in case of a humansubject to use emetics and advis-able to wash out the stomachwith a dilute solution of perox-ide of hydrogen. A physicianshould administer a solution ofcobalt nitrate, either internallyor hypodermically. Artiticialrespiration and the use of oxy-gen gas should be resorted to.The extraction of blood and thetransfusion of blood serum orsalt solution should also be con-sidered.

Other native species.Otherclosely related species are like-wise poisonous. The Euroi)eancherry laurel {FrmiKS laurocera-sus) has an established reputa-tion. It is not common in thiscountry, but is well known in central Mexico. The laurel cherry {Primuscarolini(tna) of the southern coast States is also poisonous. It is largelycultivated in that region for ornament and as a hedge. The choke cherry{Prunns vlrgi)iiana), a well-known shrub or tree distributed from theEocky Mountains to the Atlantic, has not so tempting a fruit and isnot extensively planted for ornament. It is therefore not so dangerous.The seeds of all varieties of cherries and plums, both native and intro-duced, are subject to suspicion; the tlesh of none of the species is inany way poisonous.The freshly cut branches of the trees should in no case be thrownwhere cattle can get at them.

Clack cherry (Prunus serotUia), one thirdnatural size.


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29PEA FAMILY (PAPILIONACEAE).

WOOLLY LOCO WEED.Asiraf/alus mollis^hnui^ Torr.

Other names : Loco weed; crazy weed, (Fig. 12.)Description and habitat.A silvery-white, silky-leaved i^ereimial 8 to 12

inches high, with an abnndance of soft foliage si)riiiging out in a clusterfrom a short central stem close to the ground. The flowers are pea-shaped and usually purjde. The pod is distinctly two-celled. Thisplant is native to the Great Plainsregion, extending from westernTexas and New Mexico northwardto South Dakota and Wyoming,being most abundant in Coloradoand in the western part of Ne-braska and Kansas. It grows inthe pasture lands ofthe dry prn irieand on rocky hillsides.How stock are affected.Horses,cattle, and sheep are attected l)yloco, but the principal damage isdone to horses. The effect is notacute, but in its slow progresssimulates diseases caused by bac-teria, worms, or other parasites orsuch as are caused in man by thecontinued use of alcohol, tobacco,or morphine. Two stages are rec-ognized. The first, which may lastseveral months, is a period of hal-lucination or mania accompaniedby detective eyesight, duringwhich the animal may performall sorts of antics. After acquir-ing a taste for the plant it refusesevery other kind of food, and thesecond stage is ushered in. Thisis a lingering period of emaciation, characterized bj^ sunken eye-balls, lusterless hair, and feeble movements. The animal dies as iffrom starvation, in periods ranging from a few months to one or twoyears.Damage done.The damage done to the live-stock business by this

weed is immense. As mentioned in the introduction, the State of Col-orado paid out nearly $200,000 in bounties between 1881 and 1885 tocheck its ravages.

Poisonous properties.Chemists and medical men have studied the

Ki. 12.Wooly loco -weeil (Astraiiulux tiiollisxi-mus) : a, whole plaut ; b, section of podbothone-third natural size.


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31RATTLEBOX.

Crotalaria HagiUalis L.Other names: Rattleweed; wild pea. (Fig. 14.)Description and habitat.A liairy annual, 3 to IS inches high, with

simple undivided leaves, 1 to 2 inches long, and small yellow pea-likeflowers aj)pearing in July. The seed pods are about an inch in lengthwhen mature, and are nearly black. They are much inflated, and asthe walls are stifl" and thin and very resonant, they make excellentminiature rattles when the seedshave become detached. The rat-tlebox is native in low, sandy soilsfrom the Atlantic westward to Min-nesota and eastern Kansas; alsoin New Mexico. It is common inConnecticut, New Jersey, andNorth Carolina, and in some yearsis very abundant in bottom landsalong the valley of the Missouri,in South Dakota and Iowa.

Poisonous element.The i)oison-ous constituent is unknown, butit resides both in the leaves and inthe seeds. Horses and sometimescattle are killed by eating grass ormeadow hay mixed with the plant.They are not poisoned so often byeating the plant in the field. Pub-lic attention was first called to thepoisonous nature of rattlebox byDr. Stalker, of Iowa, who in 1884,while investigating the cause of"bottom disease," then prevalentamong horses in Iowa, was led tobelieve that it was mostly if notaltogether attributable to thisplant. Extracts were prepared which, when fed to young horses, pro-duced analogous symptoms and death. The pronounced symptoms fora moderate dose were great stupor and loud, heavy breathing. A largerdose caused death in one and one-half hours. Small doses repeateddaily induced the characteristic stupor on the fifth day, and death onthe thirteenth.Symptoms.As generally described from accidental cases, the symp-

toms are much more prolonged, death resulting only after several weeksor months. There is a general decline of vigor, and a gradual loss offlesh as observed in the case of loco, with which this plant is closelyrelated. The rattlebox does not, however, appear so often to producethe craziness characteristic of loco.

Fig. ]4.Kattlebox {Crotalaria sagittalls) : ,whole i)laut; b, cross section of seed podbothone-third natural size.


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32Antidote.i^o anti


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35The large flowering spurge {E. corollata) and the ipecac spurge {E.

ipecacuanhae) produce the same eflect as the above species, but not sofrequently and only to a minor degree. The effect of all is to be coun-teracted in the same way as the effect of the caper spurge. Childrenshould be especially warned against handling them.

SUMAC FAMILY (ANACARDIACEAE).POISON IVY, POISON OAK, AND POISON SUMAC.

Iihu8.

Woody perennials, with alternate, mostly compound leaves andsmall greenish-white or yellowish flowers. All the well-known specieswith an upright terminal clusterof colored fruit are harmless.

POISON IVY.Rhus radicans L.

Other names : Poison oak ; poi-son vine; three-leafed ivy ; poisoncreeper; mercury or markry (N.H. and N. J.); black mercury(Me.); markweed (Me.); pickry(Me.). (Fig. 17.)

Description and habitat.climbing or trailing shrub (some-times erect), with variable three-foliate leaves, aerial rootlets,and greenish flowers, appearingin May and June. The smooth,waxy fruit often remains on tbeplant until late in winter. Theleaves often resemble those ofthe box elder, as in the ttgure;but their margin is not seldomalmost entire. They difler fromthose of the Virginia creeperin having only three leafletsinstead of five. Poison ivygrows everywhere in open brush,in ravines, and on the bordersof woods, and it is spread alongroadsides and cultivated fields from seeds carried by crows, wood-peckers, and other birds that feed upon its fruit in winter. The plantoccurs abundantly throughout the United States as far west as easternTexas, eastern Kansas, and Minnesota, and in greater or less abundancethroughout the less arid region of the West, with the exception of Cali-fornia, where it appears to be entirely replaced by Rhus diversiloba.

Ficj. 17.Poison ivy (Rhus radicans) : a, spray show-ing aerial rootlets and leaves; b, fruitboth one-fourth natural size.


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38is apt to be too irritating to a sensitive surface, but a weaker grade offrom 50 to 75 per cent should be preferred. To this the powdered sugarof lead is to be added until no more will easily dissolve. The milkyfluid should then be well rubbed into the affected skin, and the opera-tion repeated several times during the course of a few days. The itch-ing is at once relieved and the further spread of the eruption is checked.The remedy has been tried in a large number of cases and has alwaysproved successful. It must be remembered, however, that the leadsolution is itself very poisonous if taken internally.Much has been said in regard to the relative poisonous character of

these three plants. It has been generally claimed that the poisonsumac is the most poisonous, and that after it comes, first, the poisonivy and then the poison oak. These conclusions were arrived at fromthe occasional experience of individuals who were iwisoned by handlingone sj)ecies when supposedly immune to others. Experience teaches,however, that immunity is somewhat variable in the same individual,and therefore these general statements can liot be accepted withoutmore careful experimental evidence.

Restrictive and preventive measures.It is highly desirable that legalmeasures be adopted compelling the destruction of these plantswhere they abound iu places of popular resort. This can be man-aged without much danger from the poison, and is a matter of verygeneral public interest. As has just been noted, many individualsare practically immune from the effects of toxicodendrol. Advantageshould be taken of this fact to employ such individuals to remove theseplants from the vicinity of dwellings and from playgrounds. Muchof the work would be purely mechanical, consisting in rooting theplants up by main force. This is the most certain method; the useof concentrated sulphuric acid is attended with less danger, as theplants do not need to be touched. A half teaspoonful should be appliedto the stem every two or three weeks in the springtime when the plantis growing most vigorously. Care should be taken to keep the acidaway from the skin, as it is most highly corrosive. The brush shouldin no case be left upon the ground nor used for fuel, and in burning itin the field pains should be taken not to inhale the smoke nor to handlethe wood any more than necessary.The greatest care should be exercised in preventing workmen from

transferring the oil from their clothes and hands to other individuals.To accomplish this object special suits should be worn, and the handsshould be washed several times a day with the alcoholic sugar of leadsolution described above. Bathing in hot water with strong soapsudsis also strongly recommended. The clothing must also be well washed,and it is always well to remember that towels may be a means ofconveying the oil.


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39BUCKEYE FAMILY (SAPINDACEAE).

RED BUCKEYE.Aescidus pavia L.

Other names: Small buckeye; buckeye: horse-chestnut. (Fig-. 20.)Description and habitat.A slirub 8 to 12 feet high with opposite, loug-stemmed leaves, and numerous clusters of bright red flowers, whichappear in March. The fruit is smooth even when young; the seeds aremahogany- colored and are elegantly polished. The red buckeye isnative in fertile valleys from Virginia to Florida, throughout the GulfStates to Louisiana, and inArkansas. It is sparingly rep-resented in Missouri, Tennes-see, Kentucky, and West Vir-ginia. It is cultivated to someextent in Pennsylvania.

Poisonous character.Thepoisonous constituent is nearlyidentical with that of the corncockle, and it is found espe-cially in the young shoots andin the seed. The records of itspoisonous action are mostlyconfined to its use as a meansof procuring fish, but cattleare often killed by eating thefruit. It was formerly, andperhaps is still, the practice tostir the bruised seeds or twigsinto small ponds and gatherthe stuxjefied fish by hand asthey rise to the surface. Whenthoroughly cooked these fishare quite wholesome.

Uses.Other species of buckeye are used in medicine and in domes-tic economy. They all have a similar action and probably contain thesame poison. Of these species the best known is the true horse chest-nut {Aeseulus Mppocastanum). Its bark and nuts are used as a snuffto promote nasal discharge and as a wash for indolent ulcers. Thenut itself is used as a salve with lard, or as a wash, for rheumatism.The nut shell is narcotic. In England the fruit is fed to animals, butonly after the removal of the poison by thorough washing with alkaliand water and then boiling. Cases of poisoning have arisen from over-doses in medicine. The Ohio buckeye {Aeseulus glabra) is regarded asintermediate between the above species in its poisonous qualities.Overdoses in medicine produce nearly the same symptoms as corn

Km. 20.Red buckej'e (Aeseulus pavia) : , floweringbranch; 6, seedbotli two-ninths natural size.


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40cockle. The fruit of the California buckeye {Aesculus californica) issometimes made iuto soup aud bread by the Round "Valley Indiansafter removing the poison by roasting and leaching. The fruit of allthe species furnishes an excellent grade of starch when properly treated.The roots and fruit of some have been sometimes used in place of soap.

CARROT FAMILY (APIACEAE).WATER HEMLOCK.

Ciciita maciiJata L.

Othernames: American water hemlock ; wild hemlock; spotted hemlock; spotted parsley; snakeweed; beaver i:)oison; musquash root

muskrat weed; cowbane; spotted cowbane; children's banedeath of man. (Fig. 21.)

Description and habitat.smooth, erect, perennial, 3 to 8feet high, with a rigid, hollowstem, numerous branches, finelydissected leaves, white tlowers,and a cluster of spindle-shapedroots, which vary in length fromli to 3 inches, and are verycharacteristic of the plant. Itgrows commonly in swamps auddamp soil, throughout the At-lantic States, westward to Lou-isiana, Iowa, and Minnesota;much less commonly nortliwest-ward through Nebraska, to theIvocky Mountains, and in NewMexico.

Poisonous property.Its poi-sonous property resides in anaromatic, oily fluid, which isfound chietiy in the root, butalso in the stem, seeds, andleaves. Its true chemical na-ture is not exactly known, but

it is highly probable that it contains the alkaloid conine, and the bitterprinciple cicutoxin, the latter of which is characteristic of the Eurojieanwater hemlock ( Cicuta rirosa). Both are powerful poisons, but the latteris the more violent and produces most of the symptoms characteristicof the plant. The American water hemlock is one of tlie most poison-ous plants native to the United States. Its victims include both man

^\Fig. 21.Water Lerulock (Cicvta inacvlnta), sliowinj;sectiou of spindle-shaped roots aud lower stem, theleaves, flowers, aud fruit, one-balf uatural size; alsofruit and cross sectiou of seed, enlarged five times.


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41and aDimals. The underground parts are the most poisonous, and areespecially dangerous, because they are often washed or frozen out ofthe soil and thus exposed to view. Children mistake them for horse-radish, parsnips, artichokes, sweet cicely, and other edible roots.Cattle sometimes eat the tubers, and in marshes they are poisoned bydrinking water contaminated by the juice of roots which have beencrushed by being trampled upon. No estimate can be made of theamount of damage done to live stock, but it is very considerable. Thehuman victims average a considerable number per annum. In theState of New Jersey alone, as earlier mentioned, two quadruple caseswere reported during the springof 180G, which resulted in thedeath of two iiulividuals.Symptoms and antidote.Theprominent symptoms are vomit-

ing, colicky i)ains, staggering,unconsciousness, and frightfulconvulsions, ending in death. Asno chemical antidote is known,the treatment must consist in athorough cleansing of the diges-tive tract, and in combating thesymptoms as they arise by theuse of chloroform, chloral, andsuch medicines as are indicatedduring the progress of the malady.Herbivorous animals generallydie from the effects of a sufficientdose, but they are sometimes savedby the administration of two orthree daily doses of melted lard.OREGON WATER HEMLOCK.

Cieuta vagans Greene.Other names: Water hemlock;

cieuta. (Fig. 22.)Description and habitat.A

smooth perennial, with erect orstraggling stems 3 to feet high,glaucous, compound leaves whichspring directly from the ground, white flowers blossoming in July andAugust, and a fleshy root which consists of two very distinct and charac-teristic parts. The more conspicuous of these is the vertical rootstock,which is from 1 to 6 inches long by 1 or 2 thick, and is curiously dividedinto nu7nerous chambers by horizontal partitions. Each of the latterbears several tubes or ducts, from which a poisonous aromatic oil

FlO. 22.Oregon water hemlock (Cieuta vayans):a, plant with leaves, one-sixth natural size; band b', rootstock and horizontal roots, showingsection, half size; c, terminal leaflets, one-sixthnatural size ; d, flowering spray, full size.


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43When these plants occupy large areas the only safeguard for cattle

is to keep them on other pastures, especially when they are hungry.The plants may be destroyed by hand pulling when they occur in smallquantities near dwelliugs or playgrounds.

POISON HEMLOCK.Conium maciilatum L.

Other names: Hemlock; wild hemlock; spotted parsley; stinkweed;herb beuuet; poison root; poison snakeweed; cashes; wode-whistle.(Fig. 23.)

Description and habitatA smooth, purple spotted, hollow-stemmedbiennial, 2 to 7 feet high, with large parsley-like leaves and showyclusters of small white flowerswhich appear in July and Au-gust. The seed is prominentlyridged and has on its inner sur-face a deep, narrow, longitudi-nal groove. The fresh leaveshave an extremely nauseatingtaste, and when bruised emit avery characteristic mouse likeodor. Poison hemlock is nativetO'Europe and Asia, but has be-come naturalized in the UnitedStates, and is rather frefjuentor common on waysides and inwaste places in New York, WestVirginia, Tennsylvania, NewJersey, and Ohio, and not rare inthe New England States and inMichigan. It is infretpient inWisconsin, Illinois, Louisiana,and California, but in some lo-calities in the latter State it hasa very rank growth.

Character of the poison.Thecharacteristic poison of the hem-lock is the well-known volatile alkaloid, conine, which is found in theseeds, and, especially at flowering time, in the leaves. Tlie root is nearlyharmless in March, April, and May, but is dangerous afterwards,especially during the first year of its growth. The poison hemlock isthe most generally known poisonous i^lant historically, it being withoutmuch doubt the plant administered by the Greeks to Socrates andother state prisoners. Eeceut cases of poisoning have arisen acci-dentally from eating the seed for that of anise, the leaves for parsley,or the roots for parsnips; also from blowing whistles uade from the

Fig. 23.Poison hemlock (Conium mactilattnn),sbowiug upper portion of plant with flower.s anilseed, one-third natural size.


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44hollow stems. It has recently been shown that some of the anise seedin both foreign and domestic markets is ignorantly adulterated withhemlock seeds, but it is not known whether serious consequences haveresulted therefrom.Symptoms of poisoning.The symptoms in man are such as are due toa general and gradual weakening of muscular power. The power of

sight is often lost, but the mind usually remains clear until deathensues, as it soon does from the gradual paralysis of the lungs. Thepoisoning differs from that of the water hemlock {Ciciita macnlata)iu the absence of convulsions. The professional treatment recom-mended is the use of the stomach pump or emetics, tannin (tea, oakbark), stimulants, warmth at extremities, artificial respiration, and thesubcutaneous injection of atropine. Many domestic animals have beenkilled by eating the plant, the prominent symptoms described for cowsbeing loss of appetite, salivation, bloating, much bodily pain, loss ofmuscular power, and rapid, feeble pulse.As this plant does not occur in great quantities anywhere in theUnited States, it may best be annihilated by hand-pulling beforematurity.

HEATH FAMILY (ERICACEAE).BROAD-LEAF LAUREL.Kahnia latifoHa L.

Other names: Laurel (north of Md.); ivy (south of Md.); mountainlaurel; sheep laurel; i^oison laurel; wood laurel; small laurel; roselaurel; high laurel; round-leaf laurel; American laurel ; poison ivy;ivy bush; mountain ivy; ivy wood; big ivy; big-leaved ivy; calicobush; spoonwood; spoon hunt; kalmia; wicky. (Fig. 24.)

Description and habitat.A tine shrub, usually 4 to 8, but sometimes30 to 40 feet high. It has thick, flat, and shining leaves, showyclusters of peculiarly shaped, viscid, and mostly inodorous pink flowers,which aijpear in May and June, and a globular, viscid, dry, and inediblefruit. It grows abundantly on rocky hillsides, in cattle ranges, and onmountain slopes np to 3,000 or 4,000 feet, from Connecticut to easternOhio and along the Alleghanies to Georgia and Alabama; less abund-antly in the New England and Southern States as far as Louisiana andArkansas.

Poisonous constituent.The active constituent, andromedotoxin (fromthe name of a closely related genus, Andromeda), is found in all partsof the plant with the exception of the wood. It is a peculiar crystal-line substance, easily dissolved out of the plant by cold water or byalcohol. It i* extremely poisonous, more so even than strychnine.

Victims.Scores of cattle and sheep are poisoned annually by eatingthe shrub. Access to it is generally obtained by breaking away frominclosures, or through neglect or accident when cattle or sheep arebeing driven past laurel thickets to upland pastures in early spring.


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45Laurel leaves (commouly used for decorative purposes iu winter), orthe flowering brandies, are often carelessly thrown into iuclosureswhere animals are kept. The older cattle are not so frequently killedby it, but they are by no means immune. Horses and even goats havedied from eating the leaves, and in May, 1895, a monkey was killed atthe National Zoological Park, at Washington, D. C, by eating a fewflowers and leaves offered to it by a visitor. Deer and grouse are saidto be immune, and it is claimed that their flesh, especially that of theruffed grouse, is poisonous when they have fed upon it. It is statedthat chickens have been ])oisoiied by eating the vomited matter frompoisoned animals. Experimentsshow, however, that they are ableto withstand considerable quan-tities of the pure poison when itis fed to them. In these experi-ments the chickens were killedwith chloroform after dosing fora few days. The entrails werethen cast aside, and the well-boiled meat was fed to cats withnearly fatal results. The honeyderived from the nectar of theflower appears to be poisonousunder some conditions. Cases ofhuman poisoning occur indirectlyin the ways indicated above;directly by overdoses, or improperuse in domestic medicine, prob-ably by the secret and criminaluse of the leaves to increase theintoxicating effects of liquors,and, in children, by their eatingthe young shoots by mistake forthe wintergreen {Gaultheria pro-cumbens).Symptoms and antidote.The general symptoms in sheep may be taken

as representative for those m cows and goats. They are as follows:Persistent nausea, with slight but long-continued vomiting and attemptsto vomit, frothing at mouth, grating of teeth, irregular breathing,partial or complete loss of sight and feeling, dizziness, inability to stand,extreme drowsiness, coma, and death. The irregularity of the respira-tion is most characteristic, being present throughout the main part ofthe attack. In addition to most of the above effects there is, in man,severe pain in the head, an increased tendency to perspire, and often apeculiar tingling sensation in the skin throughout the entire body.Vomiting is very copiously produced, and consequently the effects are

Flu. 24.Broail-leaf laurel (Kabnia lati/olia) : a,flowei-iug spray, one-third natural size ; b, verticalsection of flower showing pucuiiar attachment ofstamens, natural size; c, fruiting capsules,natural size.


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46generally less severe than iu animals. Respiratory stimulants, such asatropine and strychnine, should be given as antidotes by competentmedical authorities. Oil, melted lard, or fat from bacon may beadministered to animals by anyone with hoi)es of saving life, especiallyif offered when the symptoms are first noted. As a chemical antidote

Fig. 25. Narrow-leaflaurel (Ealmia amjus-tifolia), sbowiug flow-ering branch, one-third natural size.

Flu. 26.Great laurel (lihododendron maximum):a, flowering branch ; h, fruiting capsulesbothone-third natural size.

to be tried by physicians in cases of human jjoisoning, the writer sug-gests the internal use of a 1 per cent alkaline solution of permanganateof potash.The broad-leaf laurel is typical in its effects of a half dozen or more

native species of the heath family. They are all poisonous in thesame way, because they all contain the same toxic substance, andro-medotoxin. Many fatalities are recorded against the following:

NARROW-LEAF LAUREL.Kalmia angustifolia L.

Othernames: Sheep laurel; lambkill; sheep poison; lamb laurel ; dwarfsheep laurel; small laurel; low laurel; dwarf laurel; wicky. (Fig. 25.)

Description and habitat.Like the preceding, but smaller, only 2 to 4feet high, with smaller, thinner, and narrower leaves, and smaller flow-


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47ers clustered uot at the extreme end of the stem, but at the base ofthe fresh shoots. It is abundant at low altitudes in both dry and wetsoils from Maine to New Jersey; less abundant westward throughoutthe Great Lakes region and southward to Tennessee and SouthCarolina. GREAT LAUREL.

Rhododendron maximum L.Other names: Laurel (south of Pa.); rosebay; mountain laurel; rho-

dodendron; wild rosebay; American rosebay; big laurel (Pa.); big-leaf

Fig. 27.Stagger-bush (Pifrin mariana), showingflowering branch, oue-lhird natural size.

Fig. 28 Branch ivy (Leucolboe cateshaei):flowering brancli ; b, I'niiting capsules.

laurel (Pa.); horse laurel (Pa.); deer tongue; cow plant (Vt.); spoonhutch (N. H.). (Fig. 2(3.)Description and habitat.A large evergreen bush or small tree, 10 to

20 or 30 feet high, with thick leaves, 4 to 10 inches long, and splendidclusters of large, inodorous pale pink or nearly white flowers, blossom-ing in July. A commonly cultivated ornamental tree, native to theAlleghany Mountains, but extending northward in isolated patches toConnecticut and New Hampshire.


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50September, and the fruit ripens from August to November, accordingto latitude. Tlie seeds are numerous and about the size of a grain ofbuckwheat. When fresh they are ill-scented and nauseating, but laterthey are not so disagreeable. The nectar is sweet, but a little nauseat-ing. The jimson weed is native to Europe and Asia, but is now quitecommonly introduced in waste grounds about dwellings in all of theStates east of Iowa and Louisiana with, perhaps, the exception of

"Minnesota. It is common in east-ern Kansas and Nebraska, in someparts of Colorado, and has prob-ably obtained some foothold in allof the Western States.

JIMSON WEED.Datura laiida L.

Other names : Jamestown weedpnrple thorn apple; common stra-monium ; thorn apple; mad apple;.stinkroot; stiukweed.

Description and hahitat. Asomewhat taller plant, with pur-plishHowers and stems, butother-wise x)racticallyidentical with thepreceding, both in botanical andtoxic characters. Geographical-ly, it is more abundant towardthe South and West than theother.

Poisonous elements.The poison-ous alkaloids, atropine and hyos-cyamine, the active constituentsof belladonna {Atro2)


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51ciful trade name of "Night-blooming Cactus." In September a boywas killed in New York by eating the seeds of the jimson weed, whichwas permitted to grow in a vacant lot; his brother poisoned at thesame time was saved only with difficulty. In October two other casesoccurred in New York. Four children were playing in one of the publicparks of the city where jimson weeds were growing luxuriantly. Theboys imagined themselves Indians and roamed about and ate parts ofvarious plants. Three of them ate the seeds of the Jimson weed. Onedied in a state of wild delirium; another was saved after heroic treat-ment with chloral hydrate and morphine; the third, who ate but few ofthe seeds, was but little affected. Children are also poisoned by suck-ing the flower, or playing with it in the mouth. The fresh green leavesand also the root have occasionally been cooked by mistake for otherwild edible plants. One or two instances are recorded in which cattlehave been poisoned by eating the leaves of young plants which werepresent in grass hay, but these animals generally either avoid theplants or are very resistant to its poison.Symptoms and treatment.The symptoms of the poisoning are about

the same in all cases, those characteristic of large doses being head-ache, vertigo, nausea, extreme thirst, dry, burning skin, and generalnervous confusion, with dilated pupils, loss of sight and of voluntarymotion, and sometimes mania, convulsions, and death. In smalleramounts the effects are like those of the ordinary narcotics. As vomit-ing is not a common symptom, the contents of the stomach must bequickly removed by the use of the stomach tube or emetics. It is wellthen to wash out that organ thoroughly with strong tea, tannic acid, oran infusion of oak bark, and to administer stimulants, such as brandyand hot, strong coffee. Pilocarpine is recommended by physicians tocounteract the drying effect upon the secretions (licorice is very useful),and prolonged artificial respiration must often be resorted to to main-tain the aeration of the blood.Datura meteloides is a very large-flowered species, which is native

from southern California to Texas, and in some localities is common incultivation. No cases of poisoning have yet been recorded against it,but it is largely used as an intoxicant by Indians, and is used in gen-eral for the same purposes as jimson weed. It undoubtedly containsthe same poisons.The jimson weeds should be removed from the vicinity of dwellingsand from play grounds by mowing the plants down while in flower or

by cultivating the soil.NIGHTSHADES.

Solatium.Annual or perennial herbs or shrubs with 5-lobed wheel-shaped co-

rollas; stamens protruding in the form of a cylinder, loosely coherentat the apex; and a fleshy fruit or berry containing numerous flat seeds.


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52BLACK NIGHTSHADE.

Solanum iiir/i-mn L.Other names: Cominon nightshade; iii


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55Character.The whole plaut, especially the flower, is bitter and more

or less acrid and puugeut. The powdered plant causes violent sneezingwhen inhaled, and it is therefore used in medicine to produce that effect.Sheep, cattle, and horses that are unfamiliar with the plaut are oftenpoisoned by it when driven to localities where it is abundant. As arule these animals avoid it, but it is said that they sometimes developa taste for it aud are quickly killed by eating it in large quantity.

Poisonous constituent.The poi-sonous constituent has not beenclosely investigated , but it isknownthat it exists principally in theflowers. The young plants appearto be only very slightly dangerous.In the mature ones the amountof poison present seems to varygreatly even in the same field.Symptoms and remed y.The

symptoms, as determined by ex-periments made in Mississippiupon calves, are an acceleratedpulse, difficult breathing, stagger-ing, and extreme sensitiveness tothe touch. In fatal cases, death ispreceded by spasms and convul-sions. Melted lard has been usedwith good effect in offsetting theaction of the poison when givenbefore the spasms began.Sneezeweed may be best kept

in check by cultivating the groundor by mowing the plants downbefore the time of flowering.Over twenty kinds of sneeze-

weed occur in the United States,but only one additional species is strongly suspected of poisoninganimals in the field. This is the bitterweed of the Gulf States {H.tenuifolium). One instance is recorded where several individuals werepoisoned by eating bread contaminated with its seeds. These werethrashed with the wheat in which the plants were growing, and werenot removed therefrom before its being converted into flour. TheI)lant is conceded by many to be an indirect source of bitter milk andbitter meat in cases where cattle have fed upon it.

Fia. 34.Sneezeweed {llelenium atifmnnale), one-third natural size.


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IJSTDEX,

[Page nuinliers in italics indicate headings.]Page.

Aconite ^'3,23Aconitum columbianum 22,23

napellus 17Aesculus californica 40glabra 3!)

hippocastaniim 39pavia 39

Agaricaceae 11Agaric, fly 12Agaricus campestris 13Agrostemma gitliago :.'iAlsinaeeae ^1Amanita U

bulbous 14caesarea 12deadly 12false orange 12fly ;2, 13, 14niuscaria 12orange 12phalloides 13, 14, 15

Amanita, poisonvernavernal

Amanitas, deadlyAnacardiaceaeAnagallis arvensisAuti-sopher plantApiaceaeApiiloof PeruAragallus lambertiiAstragalus molissimusAsh, poisonAtropa belladonnaBastard nigelleBear cornBeaver poisonBittersweet

nightshadeBranch ivy i7,4sBuckeye

Californiafamilyredsmall

BugbaneBunch-flower familj'CaesalpiniaceaeCalf killCalico bushCaltha palustria

Page.Caper bush 33

wild 33Carduaccae f,4Carrot family 40Cashes 43Cherry 27

black ^6, 27ruui 26whiskey .26wild 26wild black 26

Chicot 28Children's bane 40Cicuta 9. 41

bidl>ifera 42bolanderi 42maculata 40vagaus 41virosa 40, 42

Clover, crini.son JOCockle 21Cocklebur 10Coflee tree 28Colorado loco vetch 30Coniuni niacnlatuni 42, 4.5, 49Convallariaceae ISConvallaria majalis I8Corn cockle -21Cowbane 40

spotted 40Cow plant 47Cow poison 25Crazy weed 29, 30Crotalaria sagittalis 31Croton setigerus 32

tiglium 32Crowfoot family 32Crown of the tield 21Crow poison 16Cypripedium 19

hirsutum 19,20parviflorum 20regiuae 19

Cytisus laburnum ? 28Daphne mezereum 10Datura 49

meteloides 51stramonium 49tatiila 50

Death cup 13, i4, 15I

Death of man 4057


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Deer tongue 47Delphinium 23

consolida 24decorum 25geyeri 24menziesii ^5, 26reourvatum 25scoijulorum 25stapliisagria 24tricorne 24trolliifoliuni 2o

Devil's apple 49Devil's bite 16Digitalis 22

purpurea ] 0, 18, 22Dog's mei'ciiry 32Dog^cood, poison 36Ducks 19Ducksretter 16Earth gall 16Elder 10

poison 36Ergot 10Ericaceae 44Euphorbia 32

corollata 35ipecacuanhae 35lathyris 33niarginata 32, 34

Eupliorbiaceae 32Evening trumpet flower 48False jessamine 48Fever twig 53Fly killer 12Foxglove 10Fungi, gill nFungus, fly 12Friar's ca]) 22Gaultheria procumbens 45Gill fungi 11Gelsemium aempervirens 48Gleditsia triacanthos 28Glycosma ambigua 42Gopher plant 33Gymnocladus dioica 2SHeath, family 44Helenium autumnale 54,55Hellebore, American ^vllite 16

American false 16false 16,17swamp 16white 16, 17Hemlock 43,48poison 42, 43spotted 40wild 40

Herb bennet 43Hippomane mancinella 32Honey locust 28Horse-chestnut 39Hyoscyamus niger 50Indian shoe 20Itch weed 16Iron hat 22Ivy 20,44

big 44

Ivy, big-leaved 4branch 47, 4Sbush 44poison 9, 35, 44three-leaved 35wood 44

Jamestown weed 49, 50Jamestown lily 49Jasmine, Carolina 48Jatropha stiniulosa 32

urens 32Jessamine, false 48

wild 48yellow 48yellow of the South 48

Jimson weed 49,50Jinison weeds 50Kalmia 44

angustifolia 46latifolia 44

Kentucky coffee tree 28Kentticky mahogany 28Kill lamb 48Laburnum tree 28Labrador tea 10Lady's slipper 20

larger yellow J9,20showy 19smaller yellow 30yellow 20Lady's slippers 19

Lambkin 46Larkspur S4,25

dwarf 34purple 25

Larkspurs 23Laurel 47

American 44big 47big-leaf 47broad-leaf 44, 45, 46dog 48dwarf 46dwarf sheep 46great 46, 47high 44horse 47lamb 46low 46mountain 44, 47narrow-leaf 46poison 44rose 44round-leaf 44sheep 44, 46small 44, 46wood 44

Ledum groenlaiidicum 10Lepiota naucina 15

smooth 15Leucothiie 48

catesbaei 47, 4SLicheta 21Ligusticum scoticum 42Lily of the valley IS

family 18


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59Page.

Loco weed 9, 29, 30stenileas ^^woolly '~^

Loganiaceae '^'^Logauia family ^Mad apple 49, 50Markry ^^Maikweed ^'^May blossom ^^May lily ^^Melanthaceae ^''Mercurialis perennis 32Mercury ^^

black 35Mezereon ^^Moccasin flower 19, _0

yellow 20Mole i)laut 33tree 33

weed 33Monkey flower 20Monk.sbood 22Mullein pink - 21Mushroom H

common 13meadow 1'

Muskrat weed -10Musiiuash root 40Narcissus 10Nerium oleander 10Kerve root 19, 20Nervine 20

female 19male 20

Nightsliade 52black 5icommon 52deadly 52garden 52, 53spreading 53vine 53woody 53Nightsbades f>l

Oenantlie sarmeutosa 42Old maid's pink 21Oleander 10Orchid family WOrchidaceae 19Ox eye 54Papilionaceae 29Parsley, spotted 40, 43Pea family 39Physic nut, Brazilian 32Pick ry 35Pieris mariana 47, is'Pimpernel 10Pink family SIPlum 27

family 26Poinsettia 32Poison ash 30

creeper 35elder 36hemlock 42, 43ivy 9,35ivy, jioison oak, i)oi8on sumac 35

Page.Poison oak 35, 36"

root 43sumac 35, 3Svine ; 35wood 36

Poke, Indian 16meadow 16root 16

Potato family 49Prunaceae 26Prunus, caroliniana 27

laurocerasu.s 27serotina 36, 27virginiana 27

Pup])et root 16(Jueue des rats 42Ranunculaceae 22Eattlebox 31Rattleweed 31Rhododendron 47maximum 47Rhus 20, 35

diversiloba 35, 36"radicans 20,35,36veruix 36

Ricinus communis 32Rosebay 47

American 47wild 47

Eo.se catnpion 21Sambucus canadensi.s 10Sapindaceae 39Scarlet borrj' 53Senna family 2SSheep poison 46Sleepy grass loSlipi)er root 20Snakeweed 40

poison 43Snee/.eweed 54, 55Sneezewort 54

autumn 54Snow on the mountain 34Solanaceae 49Solanum 51

dulcamara 53nigrum 52tritlorum 53t iiberosum 54

Spoon hunt 44Spoon hutch 47Spoonwood 44Springwort 33Spurge, caper 3Sfamily 32

garden 33myrtle 33nettle 32

Spurges 32Staft' vine 53Stagger bush 47, 48Staggerweed 24, 54Stinkroot 50Stinkweed 43, 49, 50Stinkwort 49Stipa viridula robuata 10


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Storm hat 22Stramonium, common 49, 50Sumac family S5

poiaon 35, sv;poison swamp 36swamp 36Sunflower, false 54

. family 54swamp 54Sweet cicely, Oregon 42Tetonwort 53Thorn apple 49, 50

purple 50Thunderwood 36Toadstool 11Tragia nepetaefolia 32Trumpet flower, evening 48rmbil, yellow 20Umble 20Uncus, Indian 16Valerian, American 20Venus's cup 20Venus's shoe 20Veratrum album 16, 17

californicum 18

Page.Veratrum virido 1G,\1Violet bhiom 53"Water hemlock 9, 40, 41

American 40Oregon tl

Whip-poor-will shoes 19White man's plant 49Wicky 44, 46Wild celery 42"Wild hemlock 40"Wild pea 30"Wintergreen 45Wode-whistle 43Wolf grape 53Wolfsbane 10, 22Wolt\s milk 33Woodbine 48

Caroliiia wild 48Xanthium cauadcnwe 10spinosum 10strumarium 10

Yellows 20Tellow star 54Tew 9

} Mr '08


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chesnut-principal poisonous plants of the us

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