382 



MANUAL OF POISONOUS PLANTS 



^32^5i''^^ii' P^otoveratridin C,gH^.NOg, and the bitter glucoside veratamarin. 

 Jervin is a powerful depressant to the heart muscles and vaso motor centers; 

 large doses therefore weaken the pulse. It depresses respiration and death oc- 

 curs from asphyxia. Dr. Winslow, in speaking of the toxicology, says: 



The symptoms exhibited in Veratrum xiride poisoning are: salivation, vomiting, or 

 attempts at vomiting, purging, abdominal pain, muscular weakness, difficulty in progression, 

 loss of power and general paralysis, muscular tremors and spasms, and, occasionally, 

 convulsions. The pulse is unaltered in rate at first, but later becomes infrequent and 

 compressible and finally rapid, threadlike and running. The respiration is shallow, the 

 temperature is reduced, the skin is cold and clammy; there is semi-consciousness, loss of 

 sight, and death from asphyxia. Treatment should be pursued with cardiac and respira- 

 tory stimulants, as amyl nitrite (by inhalation), alcohol, strychnin and atropin; tannic 

 acid as a chemical antidote; opium to subdue pain, and demulcents to relieve local irrita- 

 tion of the digestive tract. Warm water should be given the smaller animals to wash 

 out the stomach and to asist vomition, and quietude should be enforced. In man, fatal 

 poisoning is rare, since the drug is spontaneously vomited. The same would probably apply 

 to dogs. Recovery has ensued in horses after injection of two ounces of veratrum 

 album root. 



Fig. 164s .\mcrican White Hellebore {Veratrum -nridc). A poisonous plant of Eastern 

 North Ameri< i. 



