526 MATERIA MEDICA 



extravasated blood. But it is remarkable, tliat eight ounces of 

 the yew plant with twice as much oats did not kill or produce 

 any sensible inconvenience ; and the same result took place in 

 three or four experiments of Professor Viborg A farmer near 

 Exeter lost several cows by eating the leaves of some yew trees 

 which grew in the hedge of the field where they were kept. The 

 following circumstance, also, Avas related in Woolmer's Exeter 

 Paper : " A yew tree having been felled in a field at Warley, 

 Somerset, belonging to farmer Hiscox, in the course of the 

 ensuing night, six out of seven cows, that were with calf, died 

 in consequence of eating its branches." We know of no an- 

 tidote to this poison, but we can certainly prevent our cattle 

 from eating it. 



Common Hemlock is said to be poisonous, but 1 have given 

 eight ounces to a young ass, which he ate readily, and suffered no 

 inconvenience from it. I once gave two drachms of Stavesacre to 

 a glandered horse ; he died in great pain the following night.* 

 It is probable that more horses have been killed by aloes than 

 by any other vegetable preparation ; that is to say, by strong 

 physic, or by neglecting the horse during its operation. The 

 animal poisons are the stings of venemous reptiles, for which 

 stimulating embrocations seem to be better remedies than fo- 

 mentations. The saliva of a mad dog is a deadly poison to man, 

 and to all animals, and one for which, as yet, we know of no 

 remedy, but its effects may be prevented by the knife or cau- 

 tery.!— Ed.] 



POMl^GUAN ATE.— Punica Granatum. The dried fruit 

 is a moderately strong astringent ; and is sometimes employed 

 in diarrhoea, particularly in horned cattle, but generally im- 

 properly. The bark and flowers possess the same properties. 



The dose is from half an ounce to an ounce. 



POPPY, RED or CORN, and ^N RITE. — Papaver 

 Rhceas et somniferum. The heads of the white poppy di'ied 

 make a good fomentation for wounds and tumours that are in a 

 painful or irritable state; for which purpose they are to be 



* Amongst vegetable poisons we must include hydrocyanic or prussic acid, 

 wliich in a sufficient dose produces sudden death, acting as a powerful se- 

 dative on the nervous system ; its etFects in lesser doses are violently spas- 

 modic. As antidotes Mr. Morton recommends cold effusions over the body, 

 blood-letting, diffusible stimulants, and tonics. 



The vomic nut and strychnia are powerful narcotic poisons. Purgatives 

 and chlorine and iodine are the best antidotes. 



Croton seed, foxglove, water parsley, dropwort, most of the different species 

 of ranunculacefe, hellebore, tobacco, and opium are also powerful vegetable 

 poisons in sufHcient doses. — Ed. 



f For a full and particular account of the various poisons, with their tests 

 and antidotes, I have much pleasure in referring to a Toxicological Chart 

 published by Mr. Morton. — Ed. 



