The Botanist's Companion, Volume II / Or an Introduction to the Knowledge of Practical Botany, and the Uses of Plants. Either Growing Wild in Great Britain, or Cultivated for the Puroses of Agriculture, Medicine, Rural Oeconomy, or the Arts

by William Salisbury

DRASTIC POISONS.

These purge both upwards and downwards with great violence by means of their acrid poisonous resin, which also violently affects the throat and passages. Although alkalies have been recommended in this case, in order to divide this resin, and that a solution of soap is proper, yet the vegetable acids are also very useful, and have a great effect in diminishing the purgative effect. Besides this, it appears still more advantageous to give astringents: Venice treacle, decoctions of bark or cascarilla, pomegranate rind, and balaustines; all which certainly precipitate this drastic principle.

644. ASCLEPIAS syriaca. SYRIAN DOGSBANE.—All the species of Asclepias have a white acrid juice which is considered poisonous. It is observed to be very acrid when applied to any sensible part of the mouth or throat.

645. BRYONIA alba. WILD VINE, or WHITE BRYONY.—The berries of this plant, when hanging on the hedges, have the appearance of white grapes, and have been eaten by children. They are known to produce dreadful effects; but it frequently happens that they produce nausea on the stomach, by which they operate as an emetic of themselves.

646. EUPHORBIA Lathyris. CAPER SPURGE.—A plant common in old gardens, but not indigenous. The seed-vessels are much in shape of caper-buds: hence its name. People have been in the habit of pickling these berries, from which some dangerous symptoms have arisen; it is probable that the vinegar may have been the means of checking its bad effects. It should, however, never be used as food.

647. EUPHORBIA amygdaloides. WOOD SPURGE.—The juice of this plant has been known to produce very dangerous swellings in the mouth and throat of persons who have occasionally put it into their mouths. We do not know that it is very dangerous; and nothing is likely to tempt any persons to use it as food or otherwise.

648. MERCURIALIS perennis. DOG'S MERCURY.—This plant is of a soporific deleterious nature, and is said to be noxious to both man and beast. Many instances are recorded of its fatal effects.

Mr. Ray acquaints us with the case of a man, his wife, and three children, who were poisoned by eating it fried with bacon: and a melancholy instance is related in the Philosophical Transactions, Number CCIII., of its pernicious effects upon a family who ate at supper the herb boiled and fried. It produced at first nausea and vomiting, and comatose symptoms afterwards; two of the children slept twenty-four hours; when they awoke, they vomited again, and recovered. The other girl could not be awakened during four days; at the expiration of which time she opened her eyes and expired.

Plantae affines.

It appears that the different species of Chenopodium have been mistaken for this plant. I do not see myself any very near likeness: but as all the species of Chenopodium have been called English Mercury, it is possible that the name may have been the cause of the mistake.

649. MERCURIALIS annua. ANNUAL DOG'S MERCURY.—Persons who are in the habit of gathering wild herbs to cook, should be careful of this. It grows plentifully in all rich grounds, and is common with Fat Hen and the other herbs usually collected for such purposes in the spring, and from which it is not readily distinguished: at least, I cannot describe a difference that a person ignorant of botany can distinguish it by.

650. PERIPLOCA graeca.—This is an ornamental creeping plant, and commonly grown in gardens for covering verandas, and other places for shade.

I once witnessed a distressing case. A nurse walking in a garden gathered flower of this plant, and gave it to a child which she had in her arms. The infant having put it to its mouth, it caused a considerable swelling and inflammation, which came on so suddenly, that, had it not been that one of the labourers had met with a similar accident, no one would have known the cause. The child was several days before it was out of danger, as the inflammation had reached the throat.

651. VERATRUM album. WHITE HELLEBORE.—The roots of this plant, and also of the Veratrum nigrum, have been imported mixed with the roots of yellow gentian, and have proved poisonous.—Lewis's Materia Medica.

* * * * *