44 Caprifotiaceag, Composite [CH. 
country folk as a purgative has caused fatal poisoning. The leaves of 
S. nigra have caused severe irritant poisoning in a child. 
Toxic Principle. Some doubt exists as to the poisonous principle 
of the Elders, the leaves of which contain Sambunigrin (C 14 H 17 6 N), 
a cyanogenetic glucoside; the alkaloid Sambucine; and a purgative 
principle. According to Cornevin drying reduces the toxicity but does 
not destroy it. 
Symptoms. The symptoms are not very definite, but small quantities 
cause purgation, while large quantities induce depression and violent 
emetic and cathartic effects, with diarrhoea, abundant diuresis and 
acceleration of pulse. The leaves of S. Ebulus have caused vomiting, 
obstinate constipation and enteritis in a boy, and in the case of another 
boy the flowers caused vertigo and headache. 
REFERENCES. 
4, 73, 81, 203, 233. 
COMPOSITE. 
Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare L.). Live stock are most unlikely to 
eat this plant, as it is bitter and acrid. Cattle appear to have been 
poisoned by it in Germany, Robert's opinion being that death had 
resulted from tansy. There have also been many serious cases of 
human poisoning. 
Toxic Principle. Tansy contains the bitter, volatile and poisonous 
Oil of Tansy. 
Symptoms. Tansy Oil has been employed as an abortifacient, and 
produces convulsions, violent spasms, frequent and feeble pulse, and 
paralysis of the heart and lungs, inducing a, condition similar to that 
observed in rabies. 
Pammel cites cases of the action of the oil from the plant on dogs. 
According to Pott the tansy imparts a bitter taste to the milk of cows 
which eat it. 
REFERENCES. 
161, 203, 204, 213. 
Ragwort (Senecio Jacoboea L.). No suspicion appears to have 
been focussed on Eagwort in Britain, but it must be recorded here as 
the cause in Canada of the Pictou cattle disease, or hepatic cirrhosis, 
a somewhat fatal disease which has caused much loss during the last 
few years. In New Zealand also the same disease has been experienced, 
and has caused considerable mortality among sheep. In one case sheep 
