n] Cruciferse, Caryophyllacex 19 
Garlic Mustard (Alliaria officinalis Andrz.) and Treacle Mustard 
(Erysimum cheiranthoides L.). The seeds are stated to have properties 
similar to Brassica Sinapistrum (p. 18) owing to a pungent oil; and 
when eaten in quantity to induce poisoning, inflammation of the diges- 
tive tract and of the kidneys, as well as nervous symptoms (Miiller). 
CARYOPHYLLACE1. 
Soap wort (Saponaria officinalis L.). This plant is more or less 
poisonous, but is rarely, if ever, eaten by stock, and no recorded case of 
the poisoning of stock has been met with. 
Toxic Principle. The whole plant, especially the root, contains the 
poisonous glucosidal Saponin (C 18 H 28 10 ) 4 , a peculiar substance which 
causes intense frothing when stirred in water. 
Symptoms. No symptoms of animal poisoning by the plant are 
recorded, but the action of Saponin in the blood stream is to induce 
dissolution of the red cells, with stupefaction and paralysis, as in the 
killing of fish by poisoning. It also causes vomiting and purging. 
Taken by the mouth it causes inflammation of the alimentary tract, 
the contents of which are foetid and mixed with blood. 
REFERENCES. 
16, 63, 76, 81, 203, 235. 
Corn Cockle (Agrostemma Githago L.). This well-known plant of 
corn-fields must be regarded as poisonous, though experiments and 
reports as to its effects on the different classes of live stock vary widely. 
Though a poisonous principle is found in nearly all parts of the plant, 
the plant in the green state appears to be innocuous, and is in any case 
rarely likely to be eaten fresh by stock, which probably refuse it on 
account of its hairy character. The seeds, however, are by no means 
harmless. They are rather large, and somewhat troublesome to separate 
from cereal grains. When ground up with wheat they both discolour 
the flour and impart a grey tint and disagreeable odour to bread made 
from it. Further, flour containing a considerable quantity of cockle 
must, owing to the poisonous character of the latter, be held to be unfit 
for consumption. Fatal results have followed the use of bread contain- 
ing Corn Cockle. The toxic principle therefore is not destroyed by 
heating, even in an oven in baking. 
2 2 
