Synonym: spotted hemlock, spotted parsley, fool's parsley, St. Bennet's herb, spotted cowbane
Features of the plant:
(1) Young plants have fernlike leaves that are light-green in color.
(2) More mature plants have purple spots on larger stems.
(3) The plant has a long white taproot.
Toxin: coniine, gamma-coniceine and related piperidine alkaloids
Primary effects:
(1) nondepolarizing blockage of the neuromuscular junction
(2) nicotinic effect on autonomic ganglia
(3) rhabdomyolysis
Clinical findings with neuromuscular blockade:
(1) flaccid muscular paralysis
(2) muscle fasciculations
(3) respiratory failure
Clinical findings with nicotinic action:
(1) salivation
(2) mydriasis
(3) tachycardia initially, followed by bradycardia
Clinical findings with rhabdomyolysis:
(1) myalgias
(2) myoglobinuria
(3) elevated serum CK
(4) acute renal failure
Other findings:
(1) nausea and vomiting
(2) cold shivers
Interestingly, human intoxication may occur after ingestion of quail that have fed on hemlocks seeds (Van Veen).
