Conium

( Bot.) The Hemlock, a genus of plants, ord. Apiacea. The most important species is C. macu latum, an indigenous plant, which is extensively employed in medicine to relieve pain, relax spasm, and compose general nervous irritation. It owes its properties chiefly to the presence of a colorle oily liquid, with a penetrating mouse-like odor, to which the name of Conia has been given. In improper doses, hemlock is a powerful poison, and many fatal accidents have arisen from its having been mistaken for harmle umbelliferous plants; it may, however, be readily distinguished by its botanical characters. The stem is large, round, and smooth, with spots upon it of a purplish-black color, the leaves are dark green, and shining; the general involucre consists of from 3 to 7 leaflets, the partial involucre of 3 leaflets; the fruit has undulated, crenated primary ridges, and contains no vitte; and the whole herb, when bruised, evolves a disagreeable smell, which has been likened by some to that of mice, and by others to that of cat's urine. No chemical antidote is known for hemlock.