Hemlock poisoning due to plant misidentification

A case report (two patients) of accidental intoxication occurred in Northern Italy. Conium maculatum L. (poison hemlock) leaves were confused with and collected as Foeniculum vulgare Mill. (sweet fennel). C. maculatum contains piperidine alkaloids: coniine, N-methylconiine, conhydrine, pseudoconhydrine and □-coniceine, toxic to human beings. Identification and microscopic examination of the consumed plants were according to clinical signs of patients. Haematological and biochemical indices in blood, morphological alterations and the effect of the treatment were directly related to the intoxication. The patients were discharged alive and well after 3 days of supportive treatment.