CHAPTER V 
SCROPHULARINE^:. 
Foxglove (Digitalis pur pur ea L.). The Foxglove has been recog- 
nized as poisonous for centuries, and one of its trivial names is Dead 
Men's Bells a name suggestive of the consequences of taking it. It is 
the source of the well-known drug ; and cases of human poisoning have 
been very common, though by no means always fatal indeed, Esser 
says "seldom resulting in death." Animals are not known to touch 
this plant, but it may possibly be included in rough meadow hay, though 
only one case, in which two cows and a horse became ill after eating hay 
containing dry foxgloves, has come to notice (Veterinary Record, 1906). 
Cornevin, however, experimented on animals, and found the following 
amounts of fresh leaves capable of causing death in the animals specified : 
Horse . . 120-140 grammes (4 to 5 oz.) 
Ox . . 160-180 (5-5 to 6-5 oz.) 
Sheep . . 25-30 (0-88 to 1 oz.) 
Pig . . 15-20 (0-5 to 0-7 oz.) 
The weight of dried leaves would be only one-fourth of these figures. 
All parts of the foxglove are poisonous, but especially the seeds, and 
the leaves are more active before than after the flowering period. Culti- 
vated varieties are stated to be less toxic than the wild species. The 
effects of poisoning may terminate fatally in a few hours, or if small 
quantities are taken regularly the poison may be cumulative and induce 
chronic poisoning. 
Toxic Principle. The foxglove contains several poisonous gluco- 
sides, investigated by Kiliani, Schmiedeberg, Cloette, Bourquelot, 
Herzig, and others. The following substances are toxic: Digitalin 
(C 36 H 56 14 or C 36 H 68 14 ) in the seeds and leaves ; Digitonin (C 54 H 92 28 
or C 65 H 94 28 ) in the seeds ; Digitalein, only in small quantity ; Digitoxin 
(C^H^On) in the leaves; and Digitin. The toxic property of the 
foxglove is not lost on drying or boiling. 
