The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

BOSTON. May 23.

The following account of the fatal effect of a dangerous Poison was drawn up by the Physician who was called in and communicated to us by a Correspondent, with a desire that we would publish it as a Caution to others:

On the 30th day of April last, Abraham Black, Of Oakham near Rutland, in the county of Worcester, digging parsnips, unfortunately threw out with the parsnips the root vulgarly called wild parsnip: by some musquash root. Said root is to be found in moist and meadow land, has a branch like a carrot, blossoms like a parsley; the root resembles in smell and taste the angelica. Two of his daughters, one in its 6th year, the other in its 5th, being present, discovered that root not to be the parsnip, and asked their father about it. He not knowing the quality of it, could give no account: upon which the eldest of the children cut a quantity of the root raw; the other roasted and ate of the same. They soon discovered the effect of it narcotic. The father made his application to a physician as soon as possible, the symptoms came on so fierce upon the eldest, viz. syncope, cold sweats, vomitings, universal pains. Under this extremity, nature flagged and death ensued in about two hours from the eating the root, before the physician arrived at the house.

The symptoms were not so enormous on the youngest; which I attribute to the root's being roasted: but it was comatose and considerably convulsed. By the use of an emetic and oil of olives the pains were abated; but the child remained under a stupor for 48 hours: By the use of alexipharmics, antiseptics volatiles, it is in a fair way of recovery.

N. B. The root which those children ate is narcotic to the highest degree. I must suppose it is, according to botanical description, the cicuta or hemlock. I hope some Gentlemen of a botanical genius will prosecute a further discovery of this narcotic plant. Dr. Quincy says, the cicuta or hemlock grows much like parsley, and it is so difficult to distinguish when young, that they have sometimes been gathered together.

There have been many instances of persons, and sometimes whole families, been suddenly taken ill after eating parsley, which probably had some of this hemlock mixed with it. It first affects the persons with a giddiness of the head and dimness of sight, and afterwards operates violently by vomit and stool. Fat broths and oily softening liquors are good in such accidents. After its fury is over, which lasts not long, it leaves sometimes a drowsiness or heaviness to sleep, and goes off without any further mischief, Dr. Quincy says, he never heard of an instance where it has proved deadly, tho many are so caught with it. Probably few have eaten it raw.