Dieffenbachia Seguina

This has acquired the name of dumb cane,

in consequence of its fleshy, cane-like stems, rendering

speechless any person who may happen to bite them, their acrid

poison causing the tongue to swell to an immense size. An ointment

for applying to dropsical swellings is prepared by boiling the

juice in lard. Notwithstanding its acridity, a wholesome starch is

prepared from the stem.