Il8 POISONOUS PLANTS 



The tubers contain it least of all the parts of the 

 plant ; and when potatoes are boiled, the dele- 

 terious principle is not destroyed, but passes out 

 into the water. 



No injury to man has ever been recorded from 

 the Solanine of potato plants ; for it is only the 

 harmless and useful tubers that are eaten. The 

 skins, which contain the most of it, are peeled off. 



On the other hand, accidents with animals are 

 not at all uncommon. Cattle have suffered most, 

 and even dogs have suffered when fed exclusively 

 on potatoes. Cows will eat raw potatoes, some- 

 times given under the impression that it increases 

 the milk ; but they have been known to suffer in 

 consequence ; as also by the foliage when given 

 to them in times of scarcity of forage. 



Aubergine {Solanum Melongena). — As in pota- 

 toes, the same principle is associated with chloro- 

 phyll ; so the purple fruits only of this plant 

 should be eaten, and all half-ripe or green ones 

 avoided. 



Besides the species mentioned, others are often 

 cultivated, and are probably more or less dangerous. 

 There is one which becomes a tree on the Continent, 

 and is not infrequently grown in conservatories, 

 popularly known abroad as Trompette dujugement. 



The Egg-plant, Mad-apple or Jew's-apple {Sola- 

 num esculentmn) is a native of the East Indies, and 

 sometimes cultivated. It produces a fruit the 



