128 



glncoside (2^ i)ei* cent, in seed). It acted on the cat 

 somewhat like strychnine. The leaves are said to Xte. 

 most poisonous just before, or about, the time of flower- 

 ing. Cattle and sheep usually become poisoned by eat- 

 ing- the leaves, and occasionally by eating the seed. 



POISONOUS PLANTS CONTAINING HYDItO- 



CYANIC ACID. 



Prof. E. li. Miller, Pharmacist at the Alabama Poly- 

 technic Institute, f(mnd that the leaves, bark and root 

 of the Prnniis Carol incdiius (mock orange) cofuaincd 

 hydrocyanic acid. 



PnimiH scrotina (wild cherry)^ 



Prnuux yinjiniana (choke cherry, and 



Pnnia.s rcrsiva (peach), all contain hydroivaiiic 

 acid at times in their leaves. They contain auiygdaiin, 

 a glucoside and emulsiu, a ferment or enzyme. In the 

 presence of water the emulsin acts on th'; amy;^<laliu 

 isnd h\virocvanic acid, glucoj-:e aiul a volalil.- oil are 

 formed. The action of the ferment is destroyed by boil- 

 ing. 



The leaves of these plants are said to be more pois- 

 onous or contain more hydrocyanic acid when kept in 

 a wilted condition, without completely drj'ing out, for 

 several hours. In the rumen or first stomach of the ox 

 or the sheep a\ here there is little or no acid and where 

 the food macerates in a watery secretion, neutral or 

 slightly alkaline, Avould be an admirable place for 

 emulsin to act on amygdalin and produce hydrocyanic 

 acid. 



Sorghum {^orfjJtuin L-iilgare), according to Peters, 

 Slade and Averj^, of the Nebraska Station, contains 

 hvdrocvanic acid when it is stunted or checked in 

 growth by dry seasons and also young, frosted or second 

 growth sorghum may contain it. No doubt, many of the 

 reported cases of sorghum poisoning are due to acute 

 indigestion (bloat) and not to hydrocyanic acid. As 



