464 



MANUAL OF POISONOUS PLANTS 





Fig. 237. California Cow Poison (Delphinium 

 trolliifolium). .\ species common along the Pacific 

 coast, and said to be fatally poisonous to cattle. 

 (Ada Hayden.) 



Fig. 238. Tall Larkspur (Del- 

 phinium glaucum) of the Pacific 

 Coast region. It is poisonous. 

 (Chesnut, U. S. Dept. Agrl.). 



the alkaloid delphinin C^H^^NOg, very poisonous with a bitter sharp taste. 

 Three other alkaloids have been isolated, staphisagrin CjoH^^NO,, bitter, the 

 poisonous delphinoidin C^^Hj.gN,0^, and dclpJiisin C,.H^.,N„0^, an extremely 

 poisonous alkaloid, to which may be added the substance calcitripin. Dr. 

 J. C. White in his Dermatitis Venenata states that acute dermatitis resembling 

 eczema may appear from the use of stavesacrc seed. Dclphitwcurarin 

 C23H NO^, has been obtained from the root stock of several species of Del- 

 phinium, D. hicolor contains 0.27 and D. scopuloruin, 1/3 per cent. 



In this country, it appears, from Mr. Cheney's observation, that D. con- 

 solida is largely sold for the European plant. A tincture of the seed is often 

 mixed with Lobelia inflata and sold as a parasiticide. Tlie Stavesacre seeds 

 arc still employed as in old times for the destruction of pcdiculi in human beings. 

 For this purpose, they are converted into powder and dusted among the hair. 



