128 POISONOUS PLANTS 



subsoil appear to induce the production of the 

 most nicotine, as the leaves become thicker under 

 these conditions. 



Drying does not remove the deleterious jproper- 

 ties. Nicotine is regarded as one of the most active 

 and dangerous poisons known. 



The principal cause of accidents on the Continent 

 has been the injudicious use of lotions of the juice 

 of tobacco for the destruction of parasites ; and the 

 practice of chewing it. 



A similar usage of lotion for cattle has proved 

 injurious, especially when it has been applied all 

 over the animal ; and if there be any abrasions on 

 the skin, then the nicotine is rapidly absorbed at 

 such lesions, and alarming symptoms follow. 



The goat, though usually omnivorous, refuses to 

 eat tobacco-leaves ; but the ox, on the other hand, 

 is said to delight in it, especially when dry, and 

 has been poisoned, having been attracted to it by 

 the odour, as the following case shows. A peasant 

 in the South of France hid some tobacco under 

 straw in a shed, and his ox discovering it, ate the 

 tobacco, and died the same day. 



Another remarkable instance of tobacco-poison- 

 ing occurred some years ago in France. A man 

 who attempted to smuggle tobacco into France, 

 wrapped the leaves all about his body under his 

 clothing. The weather being hot, and having 

 to walk some distance, he was thrown into a 



