242 PRUSSIC ACID IN THE LEGUMINOS^ 



Compholobium uncinatum (Shrub).— In " The Treasury of Botany" 

 this phmt is considered to be very dangerous to sheep. 



According to Hooker's " Journal of Botany" an experiment with this 

 plant on sheep led to the rapid death of the animals. However, Mr. 

 H. Maiden, Government Botanist in Sydney, states that in Australia 

 the plants belonging to the genus GomfJiolobiiim are harmless. 



Coodia (Shrub). — Two species are found : G. lati folia and G. medi- 

 caginea. They are shrubs of fair size, the former in favourable 

 circumstances even attaining the dimensions of a small tree; the flowers 

 are yellow. 



Goodia latifolia has poisonous foliage. Shepherds state that flocks 

 display a relish for them which leads to their own undoing. In sheep 

 which have eaten them the tongues turn black, the skin takes on a 

 bluish tinge and becomes stiff, and the animals weaken and die. 



There is some disagreement as to the poisonous properties of these 

 plants. Some say they contain no poison, but if eaten to excess may 

 cause death through dilatation of the stomach or through stoppage of 

 the intestine owing to inability to digest the fibrous branchlets. 



Cymnocladus dioica (Tree.)— This is a North American tree. In 

 America the seeds are called " coffee-beans," and when roasted are 

 sometimes used as a substitute for coffee. 



These seeds are poisonous, and influence the motor nervous system 

 by causing the voluntary muscles to work spasmodically. 



Sa-ponin has been extracted from the seeds, and it is supposed that 

 the symptoms observed are due to this glucoside or to the element with 

 which it is intimately connected. 



Indigofera australis (Shrub).— This plant is under suspicion and is 

 considered as dangerous. It is stated that the urine of cattle which 

 have eaten it is red in colour. Would this be due to hasmatein, or to 

 the presence of a pigment from the plant ? 



Isotropis juncea (Herb). — According to Turner this plant is reputed 

 to be poisonous in Western Australia. 



Lathyrus sativus (Herb).— This legume, if eaten to excess, often 

 causes paralysis of the lower limbs, which is known as lathyrism. 

 This disease occurs in Europe as well as in the Colonies, and not only 

 attacks man, but horses, oxen, and pigs as well. 



The seed is the most poisonous portion, but the stems, leaves, and 

 empty pods are also injurious. Desiccation has no influence on the 

 poisonous properties. 



This legume has always been considered as dangerous. We have 

 records from the remotest times of accidents to mankind.. Columella 

 and Pliny among the ancients; Olivier de Serres (1691), Duvernoy 

 (1770), among the moderns; and of recent date Vilmorin, Yvart and a 

 number of doctors have designated it as dangerous. Dr. KoschnevikofF, 

 Professor of Pathology at the University of Moscow, has written a 

 most interesting article on lathyrism. In i8qi, when the famine 

 deprived the peasants of wheat, they manufactured bread with Lathyrus 

 sativus, and this gave rise to the illness in question. 



