Three deaths from hemlock poisoning

Prolonged ventilatory failure and flaccid quadriparesis after ingestion of poison hemlock

“…The child had gamma-coniceine identified in serum and stomach contents. 12 Another report describes a 4-year-old boy who had 4 hours of somnolence after being fed poison hemlock that was misidentified by his father as "wild carrots." Laboratory testing of the plant material confirmed gamma-coneceine.…”

Toxicology of Specific Substances

“…The most common symptoms of a hemlock poisoning are problems in movement, dilation of pupils, slow and weak pulse, heavy salivation and nausea. After a severe poisoning, coma and death from respiratory failure are possible (Drummer et al 1995).…”

Apiaceae Lindl.

“…Stems erect; stout; hollow; fi nely longitudinally ridged; to 3 m tall; often profusely splotched with purple and, when crushed, have a strong disagreeable odor sometimes described as "mousy. " In other cases, the victims, sometimes children, became sleepy after ingestion and could not be aroused after eating the green plant tops (Drummer et al 1995 ;Frank et al 1995 ). Umbels compound; large; open; bracts of involucres few, ovate to lanceolate; bracteoles of involucels few, resembling bracts but smaller.…”