54 SolanacesB [OH. 
Bittersweet (Solatium Dulcamara L.). Some doubt exists in regard 
to the toxic character of this common denizen of the hedge-row, some 
persons regarding the berries as harmless and others as poisonous. 
Possibly the plant varies in toxicity. Floyer states that 30 berries 
killed a dog. Though stock rarely touch the plant there seems to be 
no doubt that it is poisonous, stem, leaves, and berries containing 
the toxic alkaloid found in S. nigrum and the potato (q.v.), and it 
is especially possible that poisoning may follow the ingestion of the 
berries. Johnson and Sowerby (1861) say that the leaves are narcotic, 
causing nausea and giddiness, and that the fruit is equally harmful, 
though no fatal cases then seemed to be recorded. Gillam records 
(Vet. Record, 1906) a case of poisoning of sheep. An anonymous writer 
in the Mark Lane Express (July 24, 1911) states emphatically that this 
plant is very poisonous, and that he has known 14 per cent, of the sheep 
on a farm to be killed by it in a year, while his veterinary surgeon had 
had 40 cases that season, some proving fatal. 
Toxic Principle. Like S. nigrum, the stems, leaves, and berries of 
Bittersweet contain Solanine. The berries are stated by Esser to contain 
0-3 to 0-7 per cent, of Solanine. The stems also contain the glucoside 
Dulcamarin (C 22 H 34 10 ), which imparts a bitter taste to the plant, but 
which has not been fully studied. 4" . 
Symptoms. In the case recorded by Gillam (see above) the symptoms 
observed in sheep were small intermittent pulse, temperature 104 F., 
quickened respiration, staggering gait, dilated pupil, and greenish 
diarrhoea. The symptoms appear to be the same in the case of cattle 
(Farmer and Stockbreeder, July 10, 1911). 
REFERENCES. 
4, 16, 40, 50, 52, 73, 81, 141, 147, 203, 213, 257. 
The Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). Though potato haulm is 
more or less commonly utilised on the Continent as a green fodder, 
and has been so used in England, yet there are good grounds for the 
general belief that it is not a suitable food for stock. The tubers may 
in general be eaten with impunity, but, under certain conditions, cannot 
be regarded as blameless, since they have caused serious injury. There 
are certainly records of injury to man from eating Potatoes, and accidents 
with animals have occurred more commonly. "Greened" tubers, and 
tubers with young shoots appear to be the chief cause of accidents, and, 
as regards live stock, usually when fed raw. 
Cornevin knew of no case of poisoning in man, and considered that 
