Hemlock

[Stonewall]

I recently came accross a site selling various plants and it included this...

"Poison hemlock is a coarse biennial herb with a smooth, purple-spotted, hollow stem and leaves like parsley. It grows 3 to 6 feet tall and in late summer has many small white flowers in showy umbels. It has been used as a classic admixture to witch's brews. All plant parts are poisonous. However, the seeds contain the highest concentration of poison. The conium alkaloids are volatile and can even cause toxic reactions when inhaled. The toxic components include the volatile alkaloids coniine and gamma-conicine. Poison Hemlock is a classic ingredient in Witchcraft brews. The entire plant should be considered poisonous and handled with care"

I remember reading Socrates died by drinking hemlock but also seem to remember it took awhile. Did he swallow the seeds or eat leafs? If he had taken in a seed would it make a difference and how many would he have had to take.

[Warthaug]

I think he drank a tea (i.e. stewed hemlock). I don't know what amount would be needed for a lethal dose.

B