132 OCCASIONALLY FATAL. 



THE SCOTCH BROOM, Cytisus scoparius (L.) Link., has 

 been introduced and is found along the Atlantic and Paci- 

 fic coasts. It contains cytisin, and sometimes poisons 

 stock, causing salivation, vomiting, staggering and par- 

 alysis. The lower leaves are compound, with three obo- 

 vate, spiny-tipped leaflets, while the upper ones are ses- 

 sile and often entire. The yellow flowers are borne in 

 long, leafy racemes. 



THE BLACK LOCUST, Robinia Pseudo-Acacia L., is a 

 tree common in cultivation, the leaves, bark, roots and 

 seeds of which are poisonous, containing an albuminous 

 substance resembling belladonna in its action. Cases of 

 poisoning are comparatively rare, though they have been 

 reported for animals and for people as well. In one case 

 thirty-two boys were poisoned by eating the bark strip- 

 ped from fence posts. No deaths occurred however. 



In cases of human poisoning fever is followed by pale- 

 ness and coldness of the extremities. There is vomiting. 

 The pupil is dilated and the heart-beat weak and inter- 

 mittent. The treatment which was administered in the 

 case of the boys mentioned above consisted of "sinapisms 

 over the stomach, sub-carbonate of bismuth, camphor and 

 brandy." (Pammel). 



THE CLAMMY LOCUST, Robinia viscosa Vent., has 

 similar poisonous properties. It is a small tree with glan- 

 dular twigs, petioles and peduncles. The leaves have 

 more leaflets than those of the Black Locust, varying 

 from eleven to twenty-five. The flowers are pinkish and 

 odourless, in dense racemes. 



