46 MANUAL OF POISONOUS PLANTS 



Prognosis. Fatal cases are not frequent. 



Post-mortem. The ganglion cells of the anterior horns are atrophied; also 

 the recurrent nerves and the muscles of the larynx. 



(Adapted from Friedberger and Frohner). 



Various species of aconite (Aconitum) are known to be 

 Aconitism. poisonous. One species, the A.conitum Napellus, has long been 

 used in medicine. The most common species in North America 

 is the Columbia Aconite (A. coluinbianum), which is found in the Rocky 

 Mountains and on the Pacific coast. Several other species occur in North 

 America, one extending into northeastern Iowa; the European Aconite (A. 

 Napellus*) is frequently cultivated in gardens. Cases of poisoning are largely 

 due to the administration of over doses in medicine. In the Rocky Mountains 

 accidental poisoning among live stock is confined to animals that graze at higher 

 altitudes. All parts of the plant are poisonous; one tenth of a grain of the 

 drug is a poisonous dose for some animals. The smallest fatal dose recorded 

 in man is a teaspoonful of the tincture of aconite, which is equivalent to about 

 XXX gr. of the crude drug. The minimum lethal quantity is 1-16 of a gr. for 

 man. 



Symptoms. The effects of the poisoning are a tingling sensation on the 

 end of the tongue, which shortly gives rise to a burning sensation followed by 

 pronounced constriction in the throat. It reduces the pulse and frequency of 

 the cardiac pulsations. The action of the heart is lessened and the pulse 

 is weak, irregular and intermittent, at first slow and then rapid; tingling and 

 prickling over the entire body is characteristic; vision is confused, there are 

 abdominal pains, vomiting and diarrhoea. Death is caused by the stoppage of 

 respiration, but is preceded by numerous twitchings; in the case of the horse 

 the animal falls and is unable to rise. The symptoms are different in cats and 

 rabbits. 



Treatment. No specific antidote is known, but physicians use atropin or 

 digitalis and nitrite of amyl. The stomach should, however, be evacuated at 

 once; cardiac and respirative stimulants are given subcutaneously. 



The Hellebores belonging to the genus Veratrum are common 

 Veratrism. in the mountain regions of the west and one species is abundant 

 in the east. They are found in swampy places, in wet meadows 

 and along brooks. The most frequent cases of poisoning come through the 

 administration of the drug; although in the Rocky Mountains considerable 

 quantities of the plant are consumed by sheep where grazing is close. All parts 

 of the plant are poisonous although the root is more poisonous than the seeds 

 and leaves which contain several alkaloids. 



Symptoms. Veratrin is a powerful irritant and when inhaled in minute 

 quantities produces sneezing. When injected under the skin it causes restless- 

 ness, when consumed in large quantities it produces salivation, frequent vomit- 

 ing with purging pain, and collapse, the temperature falls. Veratrin is a 

 drug poisonous to the motor and sensory nerves. Death is caused by paralysis 

 of the heart; 1/16 of a grain has produced alarming symptoms in man and 1 

 gr. injected subcutaneously produces poisonous symptoms in a horse. 



Treatment. The stomach should be emptied immediately, then give stim- 

 ulants, such as brandy and strong coffee. 



