Historical June 1977 health column, preserved as archival source material. It contains outdated poisoning-treatment advice and a historical telephone number; do not use it for current treatment or emergency instructions.
A lot of things are out this time of year, including kids, foliage, fruits, and blossoms. That can be a dangerous combination. Many plants in the city or country, cultivated or wild, can cause extreme discomfort, and in some cases, death. For the protection of ourselves and families, it’s vital that we learn to recognize and avoid those we know to be dangerous.
We know that our grandparents were able to put together some pretty tasty dishes from plants that they gathered in the wild. However, nostalgia not withstanding, we have neither the knowledge nor need to follow in their footsteps. A very good rule of thumb to follow is to leave it alone if it isn’t a familiar kind of plant. Still even familiar flowers, house plants, trees and shrubs, and even vegetable garden plants (in specific instances) can cause intense discomfort, bodily damage, and, in some cases, death if touched, tasted or eaten.
Here are several examples of some of the familiar offenders along with the types of reactions they cause:
- All parts of the autumn or meadow crocus, azealea, elephant ear, philodendron, rhododendron, and yew: burning and irritation of the mouth, nausea and vomiting, difficulty in breathing, possible death.
- Seeds or berries of the castor bean, delphinium, four-o’clock, foxglove, larkspur, morning glory, jequirity bean, mistletoe, rosary pea, daphne, wisteria, golden chain, yellow jasmine: violent stomach disturbances and possible death if eaten.
- Leaves of the bleeding heart, Christmas rose, foxglove, lily of the valley, ponsietta, oleander, mother-in-law tongue, monkshood, magnolia: various harmful reactions if eaten.
- Green shoots of the young potato, green parts of the tomato plant, leaf blades of the rhubarb plant: nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, swollen abdomen, headache, loss of consciousness if eaten.
- Bulbs or roots of the daffodil, hyacincth, four-o’clock, jonquil, monkshood, peony, narcissus, star-of-Bethlehem, caladium, iris or flags, bleeding heart, Christmas rose: various harmful reactions if eaten.
There are many others.
By far the greatest number of poisonings arising from eating dangerous parts of familiar plants involve infants and toddlers, who examine every new object, not only by touch and sight, but by taste as well. There are antidotes for most of these organic poisons. If you suspect someone of having contacted these or any other poisons, call Poison Control immediately for advice. They’re open 24 hours a day. Their number, which is in the phone book and should be kept where it is easily accessible, is 772-5200. If you don’t have access to a phone, serious injury from plant type poisons can generally be avoided by emptying the stomach in induced vomiting. Remember, poison prevention is always the best “antidote” and will cause no discomfort or after effects for the victim.
Originally published in The Paper, June 1977.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Archival transcription note: Printed ponsietta, azealea and hyacincth retained. Historicalinduced-vomitinginstructionisnotcurrentguidance; archivalcontextnoticeprominent.
Original source: SD_Times1977_06.pdf, printed page(s) 10; PDF page(s) 10.
