The only analysis of this plant with which I am acquainted is one executed in 1830 by MM. Cormerais and Pihan-Dufeillay, who found in the root a resinoid matter, which adheres obstinately to the solid portion of it, and which seems to be the active ingredient.[[2240]] I have subjected the roots to various processes, and among the rest to that by which Geiger detected conia in hemlock, but without discovering any indication of the existence of an alkaloid. My materials, however, were not well fitted for a chemical analysis; because the œnanthe root of this neighbourhood is inert or nearly so. The whole plant contains a heavy-smelling volatile oil, which may be obtained by distillation in the usual way, and most abundantly from the ripe seeds. This oil is yellowish, viscid, and inert.
It is strange that a plant, so universally considered a potent poison, and so frequently the cause of fatal accidents, has not yet been made the subject of physiological investigation. A few imperfect experiments by M. Cormerais and his companion, made with the resinoid matter of the roots, show that this substance produces in animals dulness, convulsions of the voluntary muscles, a semi-paralytic state of the hind legs, and sometimes shortness of breath, vomiting, and fluid evacuations by stool. All the animals experimented on recovered. On repeating these experiments with larger quantities I found the resin of the root, grown near Woolwich, and kindly sent to me by Dr. Pereira, to be a poison of great energy and singular properties. Twenty-four grains obtained from eight ounces of roots in the middle of December, when introduced in the form of emulsion between the skin and muscles of the rabbit, caused in half an hour depression, uneasiness, and hurried breathing,—then twitches of the ears, neck, and fore-legs,—next combined spasm and convulsive starting of the head and limbs,—then, after a quiet interval, a more violent fit of the same kind, affecting the whole body with a singular combination of tetanus and convulsive starting,—finally, after several such fits, a paroxysm more violent than before, ending in immoveable tetanic rigidity, which speedily proved fatal, 78 minutes after the application of the poison. No morbid appearance could be detected in the body. The heart contracted vigorously for some time after death. These phenomena correspond in the main with what has been recorded of the symptoms caused by the roots in man.—Dr. Pereira informs me he had found the juice both of the root and leaves to act as a poison, either when introduced into the peritonæum, or when injected into the veins; and in the latter way it was so energetic as to prove fatal in one minute.
Symptoms in Man.—Since Lobel first took notice of the poisonous properties of the œnanthe root in 1570, an uninterrupted series of observations has been published, down to the present day, showing that in France, Germany, Holland, Spain, and various parts of England as far north as Liverpool, it is at all seasons of the year, even in October and in the beginning of January, a poison of great activity. In several of the cases death has been occasioned by a single handful of the roots, in one instance by a piece no bigger than the finger, or even in consequence of the individuals merely tasting them. A girl seems to have had a narrow escape after eating, with an interval of three hours, two pieces of the size of a walnut. Very seldom has death been delayed beyond four hours, and on some occasions a single hour has been sufficient. Sometimes the symptoms have been slow in making their appearance, an hour and a half having occasionally elapsed before the effects were evident; but in every instance their progress was rapid, once the symptoms had fairly set in; and some died in convulsions almost immediately after being taken ill.
The particular effects have been variable. Most generally the first symptoms have been giddiness and staggering, as if from ordinary intoxication, occasionally headache, and often extreme feebleness of the limbs. Stupor has then generally succeeded, sometimes with the intervention of efforts to vomit, sometimes too with an interval of delirium. Convulsions have also commonly made their appearance in the next place; and ere long a state of insensibility has ensued attended in every instance with occasional violent convulsive fits like epilepsy, and with permanent locked-jaw; which symptoms have continued till near death. In one or two cases the individual has suddenly, without any premonitory symptoms, fallen down convulsed, and died almost immediately. In one or two instances again, the effects have rather been those of irritant poisoning, namely, inflammation of the mouth and throat, spasms of the muscles of the throat, vomiting, and excessive weakness and faintness, without any convulsions or insensibility.—It appears then that this plant is a true narcotico-acrid poison. The emanations from the plant are said on some occasions to have proved injurious; but the effect here was probably the work of the imagination.
Aware of these singular properties being generally ascribed to the Œnanthe crocata, I was anxious to make a methodical examination of the subject, physiologically as well as chemically,—especially as the plant grows in great abundance and very luxuriantly in a locality not far from Edinburgh. But I have found it in that situation, to all appearance, quite inert. The juice of fourteen ounces of the root in the end of October had no effect on a little dog when secured in the stomach by a ligature on the gullet. The juice of sixteen ounces in the middle of June was also without effect. An alcoholic extract of four ounces of the full grown leaves in the end of June, introduced into the cellular tissue in the form of emulsion, had no effect on a rabbit. An alcoholic extract of three ounces of the ripe seeds was administered in the same way with the same result. Finally, the resinoid extract of eight ounces of the root, analogous to that which had proved so deadly in my hands when obtained from Woolwich plants, had also no effect whatever, when prepared from those growing in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh. Relying upon these results, I ate a whole tuber weighing an ounce, without observing any effect, except its disagreeable taste; which was the only circumstance that prevented me from trying a larger quantity.—It may be well to add, that, amidst the numerous cases of poisoning with œnanthe now on record, there is not one that has occurred in Scotland. At the same time, the common people in Scotland are not at all given to rash experiments in cookery, or to make use of vegetables not produced by the care of the gardener or farmer.[[2241]]
The only other locality from which I have been hitherto able to obtain plants for examination is the neighbourhood of Liverpool, where a fatal case of poisoning with it occurred near the close of last century. When the juice of sixteen ounces of this root in the beginning of September was secured in the stomach of a dog, efforts to vomit were produced, followed by several fits of violent convulsions and spasm of the voluntary muscles, a paralytic state of the fore-legs, and a constant tendency to fall backwards; but the animal recovered.
No morbid appearances of any note have been observed after death in any of the fatal cases which are recorded.—The most appropriate treatment consists in the prompt employment of emetics, and diffusible stimulants.
Of Poisoning with Fool’s Parsley.
Another umbelliferous plant of great activity is fool’s parsley, or Æthusa cynapium. It has occasioned several accidents by reason of its resemblance to parsley,—from which, however, it is at once distinguished by the leaves being dark and glistening on their lower surface, and by the nauseous smell they emit when rubbed. It contains an alkaloid, which crystallizes in rhombic prisms, and is soluble in water and alcohol, but not in ether. It was discovered by Professor Ficinus of Dresden.[[2242]]
Orfila found that six ounces of the juice, when retained in the stomach of a dog, by a ligature, caused convulsions and stupor, and death in an hour.[[2243]]