44 CaprifoUaceaB, Compositse [ch. 



country folk as a purgative has caused fatal poisoning. The leaves of 

 S. nigra have caused severe irritant poisoning in a child. 



Toxic Principle. Some doubt exists as to the poisonous principle 

 of the Elders, the leaves of which contain Samhunigrin (C14H17O6N), 

 a cyanogenetic glucoside; the alkaloid Sambucine; and a purgative 

 principle. According to Cornevin drying reduces the toxicity but does 

 not destroy it. 



Symptoms. The symptoms are not very definite, but small quantities 

 cause purgation, while large quantities induce depression and violent 

 emetic and cathartic effects, with diarrhoea, abundant diuresis and 

 acceleration of pulse. The leaves of S. Ehulus have caused vomiting, 

 obstinate constipation and enteritis in a boy, and in the case of another 

 boy the flowers caused vertigo and headache. 



REFERENCES. 

 4, 73, 81, 203, 233. 



COMPOSITiE. 



Tansy {Tanacetum vulgare L.). Live stock are most unlikely to 

 eat this plant, as it is bitter and acrid. Cattle appear to have been 

 poisoned by it in Germany, Robert's opinion being that death had 

 resulted from tansy. There have also been many serious cases of 

 human poisoning. 



Toxic Principle. Tansy contains the bitter, volatile and poisonous 

 Oil of Tansy. 



Symptoms. Tansy Oil has been employed as an abortifacient, and 

 produces convulsions, violent spasms, frequent and feeble pulse, and 

 paralysis of the heart and lungs, inducing a condition similar to that 

 observed in rabies. 



Pammel cites cases of the action of the oil from the plant on dogs. 

 According to Pott the tansy imparts a bitter taste to the milk of cows 

 which eat it. 



REFERENCES. 

 161, 203, 204, 213. 



Ragwort {Senecio Jacoboea L.). No suspicion appears to have 

 been focussed on Ragwort in Britain, but it must be recorded here as 

 the cause in Canada of the Pictou cattle disease, or hepatic cirrhosis, 

 a somewhat fatal disease which has caused much loss during the last 

 few years. In New Zealand also the same disease has been experienced, 

 and has caused considerable mortahty among sheep. In one case sheep 



