143

3ir ap"was sosing itay retth had, ho\v-;he re-ere fofJ from

■ ; wbd

nvesti-tlemafl~count<he t«"e child,trikingas no'lgerouS

>ple ar £S " «le, an"ided as

hoppedorn fc><e doseSi

that «! of si*four «

of tin*

violent11 eh.il-v take"Tec ts oflence.

DRASTIC POISONS.

These purge both upwards and downwards with great violence by means°f their acrid poisonous resin, which also violently affects the throat andPassages. Although alkalies have been recommended in this case, in orderl " divide this resin, and that a solution of soap is proper, y e t the vege-We acids are also very useful, and have a great effect in diminishing"'f purgative effect. Besides this, it appears still more advantageous toS'ue astringents : Venice treacle, decoctions of bark or cascarilla, pome-granate rind, and balaustines ; all which certainly precipitate this drasticprinciple.

644. ASCLEPIAS syriaca. Syrian Dogsbane. —All the species ofAsclepiashave a white acrid juice which is considered poisonous. It isobserved to be vr"south or throat.

■-^lepias nave a winte acnu juje« wuieu is Lonsiueieu poisonous, his

c-bserved to be very acrid when applied to any sensible part of the

iOllth ni- Ihrjnl .

part "'reeab' fj to W?. kno<erous *

645. BRYONIA alba. Wild Vine, or White Bryony. —The berries°t this plant, when hanging on the hedges, have the appearance of^hite grapes, and have been eaten by children. They are known toProduce dreadful effects; but it frequently happens that they pro-duce nausea on the stomach, by which they operate as an emetic of'"ernselves.

646. EUPHORBIA Lathyris. Caper Spurge. —A plant common in'''<! gardens, but not indigenous. The seed-vessels arc much in shape"f caper-buds: hence its name. People have been in the habit ofWckling these berries, from which some dangerous symptoms haveir isen ; it is probable that the vinegar may have been the means ofchecking its bad effects. It should, however, never be used as food.

64*7. EUPHORBIA amygdaloides. Wood Spurge. — The juice of">is plant has been knownto produce very dangerous swellings in theln outh and throat of persons who have occasionally put it into theirSouths. We do not know that it is very dangerous; and nothing ishkely to tempt any persons to use it as food or otherwise.

648. MERCURULISpWCTBiw. Doc's Mercury.— This plant is ofa soporific deleterious nature, and is said to be noxious to both mana "<l beast. Many instances are recorded of its fatal effects.

Mr. Ray acquaints us with the case of a man, his wfe, and threechildren, who were poisoned by eating it fried with bacon : and a me-