OH. vi] Liliaceas 79 
Symptoms. The plant is emetic, purgative, intensely acrid, and 
narcotic, Poisoning up to the present only appears to have been re- 
corded in fowls, the symptoms being intense local inflammation, narcotic 
effects, vomiting, colic, diarrhoea, stupefaction, convulsions, and para- 
lysis (Miiller). 
REFERENCES. 
4, 16, 73, 76, 81, 130, 141, 190. 
Lily-of-the- Valley (Convallaria majalis, L.). This beautiful plant 
is only likely to induce poisoning of domestic animals at very rare 
intervals, as it occurs wild in only a few woods from Moray southwards, 
being, however, abundant in some districts. All parts are stated 
to be poisonous, especially the flowers. It has an acrid, bitter taste. 
Few cases of poisoning are recorded. Sheep and goats are believed to 
eat the leaves with impunity. The extract is so poisonous that four 
drops injected into the blood stream sufficed to kill a dog in ten minutes 
(Cornevin). The leaves have been known to kill geese and fowls. 
Toxic Principle. All parts of the plant contain the bitter poi- 
sonous glucoside Convallamarin (C 23 H 44 12 ), the glucoside Paridin 
(C 16 H2g0 7 + 2H 2 0), and the glucoside Convallarin (C^H^On) the 
first a dangerous purgative, and the last a cardiac poison resembling 
Digitalis. Convallamarin is a very poisonous crystalline substance, 
with at first a bitter and afterwards a sweetish taste. 
Symptoms. The action of this plant on the animal organism is not 
yet clearly known, but it is stated to have marked emetic and purgative 
action. Taken in moderate quantities a period of retardation of the 
heart and lung action is followed by a period in which the heart action 
is intermittent, and there are stoppages in respiration, and vomiting. 
Taken in large quantities, the first of these periods is extremely short, 
the pulse soon becomes rapid and small, respiration is quickened, and 
the heart action ceases (Cornevin). 
Pott observes that the leaves cause stupefaction, convulsions, and 
death after a few hours in the case of geese. He cites a case in which ten 
fowls ate the leaves and nine died. 
REFERENCES. 
52, 73, 76, 81, 190, 203, 205, 213. 
Meadow Saffron (Cokhicum autumnak L.). The Meadow Saffron, 
Autumn Crocus, or Naked Ladies, as it is variously nam,ed, occurs in 
