(Eranthis hyemalis) It is toxic, at any rate to animals, but little harm is normally done, for the burning taste will usually stop them eating it (North), and it is not so dire as Gerard’s remark (“this herb is counted to be very dangerous and deadly”) would suggest. But he went on to describe its uses, one of which involved scorpions: “… it is reported to prevail mightily against the bitings of scorpions”. It seems that scorpions had only to touch the plant, and they became “dull, heavy and senceless”, but White hellebore was the scorpion’s antidote.
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