Paris quadrifolia L. Trilliaceae Herb Paris Distribution: Europe and temperate Asia. This dramatic plant was known as Herb Paris or one-berry. Because of the shape of the four leaves, resembling a Burgundian cross or a true love-knot, it was also known as Herb True Love. Prosaically, the name ‘Paris’ stems from the Latin ‘pars’ meaning ‘parts’ referring to the four equal leaves, and not to the French capital or the lover of Helen of Troy. Sixteenth century herbalists such as Fuchs, who calls it Aconitum pardalianches which means leopard’s bane, and Lobel who calls it Solanum tetraphyllum, attributed the poisonous properties of Aconitum to it. The latter, called monkshood and wolfsbane, are well known as poisonous garden plants. Gerard (1633), however, reports that Lobel fed it to animals and it did them no harm, and caused the recovery of a dog poisoned deliberately with arsenic and mercury, while another dog, which did not receive Herb Paris, died. It was recommended thereafter as an antidote to poisons. Coles (1657) wrote 'Herb Paris is exceedingly cold, wherupon it is proved to represse the rage and force of any Poyson, Humour , or Inflammation.' Because of its 'cold' property it was good for swellings of 'the Privy parts' (where presumably hot passions were thought to lie), to heal ulcers, cure poisoning, plague, procure sleep (the berries) and cure colic. Through the concept of the Doctrine of Signatures, the black berry represented an eye, so oil distilled from it was known as Anima oculorum, the soul of the eye, and 'effectual for all the disease of the eye'. Linnaeus (1782) listed it as treating 'Convulsions, Mania, Bubones, Pleurisy, Opththalmia', but modern authors report the berry to be toxic. That one poison acted as an antidote to another was a common, if incorrect, belief in the days of herbal medicine. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.

Animals (cruel poisons) act, 1962 / C.W. Hume.

Astley's prepared wheat : to poison mice, sparrows, and all sorts of small vermin, without danger to animals of a larger growth... / J. Astley.

Traité des poisons : tirés des règnes minéral, végétal et animal, ou toxicologie générale, considérée sous les rapports de la physiologie, de la pathologie et de la médecine légale / Par M.P. Orfila.

Treatise on the venom of the viper; on the American poisons; and on the cherry laurel, and some other vegetable poisons. To which are annexed, observations on the primitive structure of the animal body; different experiments on the reproduction of the nerves; and a description of a new canal of the eye ... / Translated from the original French of Felix Fontana ... by Joseph Skinner.

Traité sur le vénin de la vipere, sur les poisons americains, sur le laurier-cerise et sur quelques autres poisons végetau / [Tr. by J. d'Arcet.] On y a joint des observations sur la structure primitive du corps animal. Différentes expériences sur la reproduction des nerfs, et la description d'un nouveau canal de l'œil. Par M.r Felix Fontana ... [Ed. by J. Gibelin].

An artificially manufactured version of a goa stone found inside the stomachs of an animal (bezoar stones) and its case. Made in India from a paste of clay, crushed shell, amber, musk and resin and used for numerous complaints such as poisons

An artificially manufactured version of a goa stone found inside the stomachs of an animal (bezoar stones) and its case. Made in India from a paste of clay, crushed shell, amber, musk and resin and used for numerous complaints such as poisons and as a charm against plague

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