Plantae affines.
Although the mischief which is recited above occurred from the root having been purchased at market, I do not know of any vegetable in common use likely to be confounded with this. It might by chance be mistaken for the smaller tubers of Jerusalem artichoke.
In foliage it comes near to the other species of Aconitum, and to the perennial Larkspurs.
However, as this is a plant much grown in pleasure-grounds on account of its beautiful blue flowers, great care should be taken not to use any roots taken from such places that cannot be well ascertained.
629. ACONITUM Lycoctonum. YELLOW WOLFSBANE.—Every part of this plant is accounted poisonous. In fact, I think it is proper that all the species should be considered as such, and never be made use of, either in medicine or otherwise, without great care in their administration.
630. ACTAEA spicata. BANEBERRY.—This plant is also considered as a deadly poison; but we have no authentical accounts of its mischievous effects, although Parkinson has mentioned it in these words:—
"The inhabitants of all the mountaines and places wheresoever it groweth, as some writers say, do generally hold it to be a most dangerous and deadly poison, both to man and beast; and they used to kill the wolves herewith very speedily."
This is not a common plant, growing only in some particular situa-tions, as near Ingleborough in Yorkshire.
631. RHUS Toxicodendron. POISON-ASH.-The juice of the leaves of this plant is so very acrid as often to corrode the skin, if the leaves are gathered when the dew is on them. Great care should certainly be taken in the giving such a medicine internally, as also in its preparation, it being usually administered in a dried state.
Planta affinis.