Dear Sir,
Your most affectionate Friend,
John Ellis.
_P. S._ The Rev. Mr. William Borlase is now of opinion, that the
Cornish Barnacle at _Fig._ 16. which he has described in his History
of Cornwall, is rather a Limpet or Patella.
CXIV. _A further Account of the poisonous Effects of the_ Oenanthe
Aquatica Succo viroso crocante _of_ Lobel, _or_ Hemlock Dropwort, _by_
W. Watson, _M.D. F.R.S._
_To the_ ROYAL SOCIETY.
[Read Dec. 21, 1758.]
Gentlemen,
IN the month of June 1746. I communicated to you some observations
concerning the _Oenanthe aquatica Succo viroso crocante_ of Lobel,
in relation to its poisonous effects upon some French prisoners
at Pembroke. These observations were afterwards published in the
_Philosophical Transactions_[225], with an accurate representation of
the plant itself, from an original drawing by that compleat artist Mr.
Ehret. This at that time I thought the more necessary, as it was of no
small importance to the public, to be well acquainted with a plant,
the effects of which, when taken into our bodies, were so much to be
dreaded. This account of mine, as well as the representation of the
plant, were republished from the Transactions into the periodical works
of that time; from whence a more extensive knowlege of and acquaintance
with this plant might have been hoped for. A late instance however has
evinced, that these endeavours have not had their full effect, as the
plant in question is not yet sufficiently known, and attended to.
John Midlane, a cabinet-maker of Havant in Hampshire, aged about 58,
and of a gross habit of body, was advised to make use of the water
parsnep, as a remedy for a severe scorbutic disorder, which he had long
been troubled with; and for which he had taken a variety of medicines.
Instead of the water parsnep, which he purposed to take, there were
gathered for him some roots of the _oenanthe_ above mentioned; a large
one of which was pounded in a mortar, and the juice thereof squeezed
through a linen cloth, and amounted to about five spoonfuls. This was
suffered to stand all night, and the next morning (Mar. 31. 1758.), at
about half an hour past five, he drank the whole quantity, except the
sediment.
In about an hour and half after he had taken this juice, he walked
about the town upon some business; and a little before seven, upon
his return home, about an hundred yards from his own house, he first
complained that he was ill; and having walked about thirty yards
further, was so bad as to go into a neighbour’s house to rest himself.
He was soon led from thence to his own house by two men, and told them,
that he was affected as though he had lost the use of his limbs. When
he was placed in his chair, he complained greatly of pain all over
him; but particularly in his head. His stomach was immediately after
affected, and he had great reachings to vomit. At the second attempt he
threw up about half a pint of a clear watry liquor; at the first and
third attempt he discharged scarce any thing. He was then seized with a
great propensity to go to stool, which went off in about three minutes.
After this, he with the greatest difficulty was conducted upstairs
to bed, where he pulled off part of his cloaths himself. When he was
put to bed, he was attacked with very severe convulsions, which in
about a quarter of an hour deprived him of his senses; and continued,
with a few intermissions, till he died, a little before nine o’clock;
which was about three hours and half after the juice had been taken.
A profuse sweat accompanied the whole of these symptoms: he foamed
considerably at the mouth, and his belly swelled greatly. He purged
very much soon after he was dead, but not before.
As this poor man had taken this dose before his family were up, no
one could imagine from whence his disorder arose; and consequently
the apothecary, who was called to him, was able to form a judgment
of his case only from the symptoms; as on his coming he found his
patient senseless, and who had not, while his mind was undisturbed,
told any one the probable cause of his complaints. He took from him
however about ten ounces of blood, and endeavoured to get some _vinum
ipecacuanhæ_ into his mouth: but his jaws were closed so fast, not
above a spoonful passed, and that by the accident of his mouth opening
of itself.
The symptoms, with which the person above-mentioned was attacked, were
much the same as those which were observed in the French prisoners, who
were poisoned by the same root at Pembroke. In both instances occurred
those severe muscular spasms, which kept the under jaw so close to the
upper, that, while the spasm continued, scarce any force could separate
them. In both instances likewise a considerable time passed before
the persons, who had eaten of this root, though they had taken enough
of it to destroy them, perceived themselves disordered by it.
[Illustration: _Philos. Trans. Vol. L._ TAB. XXXV. _p. 859_.
_J. Mynde sc._]
I am obliged for this communication to Richard Warner, Esq; of
Woodford, a gentleman of great merit, whose zeal for the promotion of
useful knowlege I have many times experienced.
The expediency of laying before you observations of this sort, which
may tend, by making people careful of what they take, to the saving the
lives of many, makes no apology necessary for so doing. I am, with all
possible regard,
Gentlemen,
Your most obedient humble Servant,
W. Watson.
Lincoln’s-Inn-Fields, 20 Dec. 1758.
CXV. _Extract of a Letter to_ John Eaton Dodsworth, _Esq; from Dr._
George Forbes _of_ Bermuda, _relating to the_ Patella, _or_ Limpet
Fish, _found there_.