u] Ranunculaceae 13 
in the abdomen, followed by diarrhoea and general oBdematous swelling 
over the whole body," but they recovered (Johnson and Sowerby). 
REFERENCES. 
63, 81, 140, 190, 203, 213, 233. 
Hellebores (Helleborus sp.). Two poisonous species of hellebore 
may on occasion be taken by live stock, though rarely-r-Stinking 
Hellebore (H. fcetidus L.) and Green Hellebore (H. viridis L.). The 
much esteemed Christmas Rose (H. niger) is also toxic, but unlikely to 
be eaten by stock. In no case should trimmings of these plants from 
shrubberies, etc., be thrown to stock cows have died from eating such 
trimmings. The two species first mentioned are equally toxic, all parts 
are poisonous, and drying does not render them innocuous. Cornevin 
records that animals have been killed by H. fcetidus, and says that 
9^ oz. of the fresh root or 2|oz. of the dried root are poisonous doses to 
the horse, while 120 to 150 grains are fatal to sheep. It was recorded 
in 1847 (Veterinarian) by Mayer that a horse was fatally poisoned 
through eating five half-pints of the chopped-up leaves of this species 
in two days in a bran mash. In regard to this species also Johnson 
and Sowerby write: "The Bear's-Foot has been used as a vermifuge 
ever since the days of Hippocrates, notwithstanding its dangerous 
qualities. Every part of the plant is a violent cathartic, but far too 
uncertain in the degree of its action to be safely administered." 
Toxic Principle. Both species contain the poisonous glucosides 
Helleborin (C 36 H 42 6 ), a highly narcotic and powerful poison; Helle- 
borein (C 26 H 44 15 ) ; and the alkaloid Jervine (C 26 H 37 3 N2H 2 0). 
Symptoms. The Hellebores are cathartic, narcotic, and drastically 
purgative. Stupor is followed by death with spasms in the case of 
H. viridis (Pammel). In general there is in the horse and ox bloody 
purgation, salivation, attempts to vomit, and excessive urination, 
according to Lander, who cites Mayer as noting violent straining and 
the discharge of frothy mucus, but no effort to vomit, the heart action 
resembling that observed in Digitalis poisoning, showing periodic in- 
tervals of arrest in systole. 
Miiller gives the symptoms in cattle and sheep after eating the leaves 
as loss of appetite, nausea, and even vomiting, salivation, grinding of 
teeth, wind, colic, bloody diarrhoea, decrepitude, giddiness, loss of 
sensation, convulsions, and not seldom death. 
Affected cows are stated to give bitter milk which has purgative 
effects (Pott). 
