68 Eupliorbiaceae [OH. 
with bacon. Fishermen ate it with soup and all were seriously ill an 
hour later, with symptoms of irritant narcotic poisoning ; two children 
died the next day. Cornevin saw M. annua used, after boiling, as a 
food for pigs, without ill consequences, in the east of France. This is 
believed to be due to the poison being volatile and destroyed by heat 
or boiling; hence in hay the plant is harmless, though Pott says that 
even in hay stock avoid it. 
Toxic Principle. The poisonous properties are said to be due to 
Mercurialine, Oil of Euphorbia, a volatile toxic alkaloid. Esser states 
that the stem and leaves of M. annua contain Trimethylamine, which 
may perhaps be a decomposition product of Choline, a poisonous base. 
Symptoms. Both plants are emetic and dangerously purgative, 
causing irritant and narcotic symptoms. Veterinary observation has 
shown that the poison is cumulative, and that it is usually after the weed 
has formed part of the food for 7, 8, or 10 days that symptoms first 
appear. In the case recorded by Blackhurst (see above) the cows 
suffered from inflammation of the digestive tract, with severe purging 
and loss of blood. The secretion of milk entirely stopped. One cow 
died, but three recovered in about four days. The fifth was not con- 
valescent for three weeks and then had a permanently curved and in- 
jured neck, the muscles being subsequently found rich in fibrous tissue, 
and the last three joints partially anchylosed. Rabbits were tested by 
feeding two on the leaves, two on the stems and roots, and two on the 
ground seeds mixed with oatmeal; the first two were unaffected, but 
the other four died in a few hours, showing drowsiness and suffering, 
while the post-mortem showed gastritis. 
The digestive and urinary tracts are affected. There is indigestion 
with slight bloating, then colic of varying intensity, and at first diarrhoea 
which may give place later to constipation ; hsematuria ; micturition is 
frequent, painful, and the urine is blackish and bloody ; dullness, weak- 
ness, loss of appetite and refusal of food ; the heart beats very strongly, 
the pulse is rapid, and the mucous membrane of the eye is reddish- 
yellow in colour. There is no modification of respiration (Cornevin). 
According to Mliller, however, the symptoms at first include consti- 
pation and later severe and bloody diarrhoea. 
In cattle Pott states that M. annua causes inflammation of the 
stomach and intestines, bloody urine, paralysis of bladder, foetid diarrhoea, 
abortion, and bluish coloured milk deficient in fat. Miiller states that 
there is occasionally blood in the milk. According to Lander there is 
in cows excessive bloody purgation, cessation of lactation, temperature 
