On Poisonous Plants

they excite vomiting and loosen the bowels; all fruits with three seeds such as Ricinus Castor oil plant, Euphorbia Spurge, Croton, and others; acrid plants like Arum Cuckoo-pint, Dracontium Dragon arum, and Calla Wild calla. Not to mention Mezereum February daphne, immature figs, and all gourd-like plants.

2. Anodynes Pain-relievers, which act upon the nerves, disturb animal functions, induce deep sleep, and suppress life, exert their effects in quite diverse ways—not only according to the different age and constitution of the body, but also according to their own diverse quality, dose, and preparation. The Luridæ pentandræ The "ghastly" plants with five stamens, referring to the Nightshade family like Belladonna act upon the brain in a singular way: they dilate the pupils of the eyes, soothe spasms, excite delirium, and leave behind a wonderful forgetfulness. Fungi Mushrooms, always of an unpleasant odor and often nauseating, are sometimes highly poisonous, especially the agaricus muscarius Fly Agaric, which is accustomed to excite symptoms not much different from the "ghastly" plants among the Berserkers Old Norse warriors known for their fury and other nations. Opium, from a polyandra many-stamened and simultaneously milky plant the Poppy, is nauseous and unpleasant to the taste; it can be regarded as the prince among the narcotics. Its more prolonged use weakens the nerves, induces trembling, diminishes the power of memory, and accelerates premature old age and death—as do all spirituous substances when used immoderately for a long time.

§. 12.

After it has been explained in the preceding pages: what is a poison? How does it differ from foodstuffs and nutrients? In what way can a poison be considered either milder and less dangerous—and thus deserve the name of a remedy—or stronger and highly noxious—that is, more rightly deserving to be called a poison? By what aids of botanical science is the skilled and learned Physician able to distinguish useful plants from harmful ones, and remedies from toxins?