As more and more people take up wilderness river rafting as a means of getting back to nature, the number of plant poisoning cases has been on the increase. Ingestion of the water hemlock plant (known as Cicuta douglasii), the Western Journal of Medicine (142:637) reports, has recently been responsible for the deaths of several river rafters in Oregon and Idaho.
This plant closely resembles the wild carrot or parsnip. It has large fleshy roots with a smell so strongly suggestive of carrots and celery that people are tempted to taste them.
About the only method of treating hemlock poisoning available in the wilderness is the induction of vomiting, but, without an emetic such as syrup of ipecac, this can be very difficult. Campers, therefore, should always be prepared for such emergencies by carrying a reliable emetic in their packs.
In emergencies, a useful trick that can save lives from poisoning, according to the Journal, is to make up an emetic by mixing a tablespoonful of liquid dish soap in eight ounces of water.
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