50 Solanacex [ch. 



SOLANACEiE. 



Thorn Apple {Datura Stramonium L.). This species is an escape 

 from cultivation, but on occasion occurs plentifully in gardens, and if 

 allowed to seed may escape to arable fields and find its way to stock, 

 though it does not appear to have done so in Britain. Several species 

 of Datura are recognized as virulent poisons in North America, where 

 they are known as Jimson Weeds. All parts are poisonous, especially 

 the seeds, which have a somewhat sweetish taste, and have frequently 

 caused accidents to children who have eaten them. Cases are recorded 

 in the United States in which cattle have been poisoned by eating the 

 leaves of young plants in hay. Live stock, however, usually avoid the 

 plant, which has an unpleasant odour and taste, while the seeds are 

 enclosed in thorny capsules. Walsh states that the seeds are very 

 fatal to young ostriches. Drying does not destroy the toxicity. 



Toxic Principle. The Thorn Apple is usually stated to contain the 

 highly poisonous narcotic alkaloid Daturine, but this appears to be a 

 mixture of the two alkaloids Hyoscyamine (C17H23O3N) and Atropine 

 (C17H23O3N), which, together with the alkaloid Scopolamine, or Hyoscine 

 (C17H21O4N), have been found in the plant, the principal constituent 

 being Hyoscyamine. In some analyses as much as 0-33 per cent, of 

 Atropine has been found in the seeds, and 0-2 per cent, in the leaves 

 (Pammel). The three alkaloids occur together to the extent of 0-48 to 

 3*33 per cent, in the leaves, 0-43 per cent, in the flowers, and 0-1 per 

 cent, in the root, Hyoscyamine predominating (Esser). An investigation 

 conducted at the Imperial Institute {Bid. Imp. Inst., 1911) showed 

 the amount of alkaloids in European specimens to be: — 



Seeds . . 0-21 to 0-48 per cent. 



Leaves . . up to 0-4 „ 



Stems . . average 0-22 „ 



Roots . . average 0-17 ,, 



Symptoms. The general effect of Datura poisoning appears to re- 

 semble that of Atropa Belladonna, but is by some considered more rapidly 

 effective. There is paralysis, dilatation of the pupils, suspension of 

 secretion and of the inhibitory fibres of the vagus, leading to rapid action 

 of the heart (Lander), Poisoning may terminate fatally. Pammel 

 quotes Winslow as stating that two grains of Atropine produce mild toxic 

 symptoms in the horse; cattle are as susceptible as horses, though 

 herbivora are not so easily influenced as carnivora. Chesnut gives the 



