94 Plants suspected of being Poisonous [OH. 
It has an acrid taste, causes smarting of the eyes, soreness of throat, 
aching of extremities, and colic ; and irritation to people handling it (203). 
Mayweeds (Anihemis sp.). It is not at all clear whether these 
plants are more than irritant in character, and they are so very common 
and widely distributed that there would probably be more evidence if 
they were poisonous. A. Cotula is regarded as suspected by Smith and 
Halsted, while Ewart says that it is obnoxious to stock on account of 
its unpleasant flavour, and if eaten by them in time of scarcity is apt 
to give their flesh, milk, or butter an unpleasant flavour. Giissow 
states that this species blisters the mouth and nostrils of animals. In 
his investigations at Kew, Greshofi found that the seeds of A. Cotula 
and A. arvensis contain much hydrocyanic acid. (He further found that 
the cyanogenetic glucoside from A. aetnensis Schouw. and A. chia L. 
belongs to the amygdalin type, giving off hydrocyanic acid and benz- 
aldehyde on hydrolysis. "The strong odour of benzaldehyde may 
even be observed on grinding the seeds with water. Species of Anihemis 
contained from 0-15 down to 0-03 per cent, of hydrocyanic acid.") 
Cat's-Ear (Hypochceris radicata L.). No record of poisoning of 
Cat's Ear has been found, but it may be mentioned here, since Ewart 
says of it : "It contains a bitter, milky sap, which makes it unpalatable 
though not entirely poisonous An exclusive diet of this 
weed could not help but injure stock eventually." 
Dodders (Cuscuta sp.), when parasitic on clovers and fed as fodder 
or hay, have been suspected of causing digestive troubles in horses and 
cattle in the United States. Miiller records a case of poisoning of young 
pigs by C. europcea, with inflammation of the intestines and nervous 
symptoms. Barbey determined the presence of the glucoside Cuscutin 
in C. Epithymum. 
Viper's Bugloss (Echium vulgare L.) is suspected of being poisonous; 
according to Friedberger and Frohner it causes slavering (see also 
Cynoglossum). 
Hound's Tongue (Cynoglossum qfficinale L.). To what extent this 
plant is actually poisonous is not clear, but with some other members 
of the order (Echium vulgare, Anchusa officinalis), it contains the two 
alkaloids Consolidine and Cynoglossine the former of which paralyses 
the central nervous system and the latter the peripheral nerves. 
(Greimer, 1900: vide Henry). 
According to Hooker, Hound's Tongue is narcotic and astringent, 
and Smith includes it as a simple vegetable irritant, causing nausea and 
purging. No records of actual poisoning of animals have been found. 
