The poisonous hemlock juice was employed by ancient Greeks as a means of capital punishment. Socrates and other celebrities are said to have met death by this means. Accidental poisoning has occurred in modern time by mistaking the conium for parsley, parsnip, or anise plants. =Antidote=: Call your doctor. Have patient vomit. Physicians perform gastric lavage as soon as possible. Treat for alkaloid poisoning and maintain respiration. POISON-IVY [Illustration: Poison-ivy, poison-oak _Rhus Toxicodendron--ANACARDIACEAE_] =Description=: Probably no other plant has caused as much suffering and distress as has the poison-ivy. Poison-ivy, with its characteristic three-leaf appearance and prominent veins is a woody vine, climbing by aerial rootlets, or taking a tree-like appearance. Poison-oak is more of a low, branching shrub. Each leaflet is shaped somewhat like an oak leaf. Both are found abundantly in woodlands, along fences, walks, and roadsides. During the fall their showy red and yellow leaves are frequently mistaken for those of the harmless trees of the woods. The flowers are yellowish green to white in color and formed in clusters attached to the stems, or in the stem forks. Fruits are smooth globular structures, sometimes remaining on the branches until spring. =Poisonous Parts=: All parts of the plant are poisonous, even the tiny plant hairs and the smoke from burning the leaves in the fall. This plant produces a severe dermatitis upon contact causing inflammation, blistering, and vesicles. As the skin breaks, a liquid exudes and scabs or crusts form. The poisonous principle is a reddish-brown, oil-resin containing =urushiol=. This can produce irritant effects within 24 hours upon contact with the skin. =Antidotes=: Numerous remedies are available in pharmacies for poison-ivy. After contact, or suspected contact, hands, face, and affected parts should be first washed freely with soapy water using laundry soap of the alkali kind; lather abundantly. Soaps containing oil or greasy components should not be used. The poison is soluble in them and will spread over the skin. In severe or persistent cases of dermatitis, consult your physician. Physicians treat itching, severe inflammation, and pain when dermatitis becomes evident. POKEWEED [Illustration: Pokeweed, pigeonberry, American nightshade, ink berries, scoke _Phytolacca americana, P. decundra--PHYTOLACCAEAE_] =Description=: A perennial weed, growing up to about 4 feet, with a large fleshy root system. Stems are rather thick and leaves have a light green appearance with prominent ribs (veins) and somewhat curled edges.