104 A Classification of Poisons [ch. 



2. Deliriants. — Symptoms : Spectral illusions ; delirium ; dilated pupils ; 

 thirst and dryness of the mouth ; incoordination. Occasionally, though 

 rarely, there are paralysis and tetanoid spasms. 



British Plants included : Datura Stramonium, Hyoscyamus niger, 

 Solanum Dulcamara, Solanum nigrum, Atropa Belladonna, Lolium 

 temulentum. 



3. Inebriants. — Symptoms: Excitement of cerebral functions and of the 

 circulation; loss of power of coordination and of muscular movements, 

 with double vision ; leading to profound sleep and deep coma. 



British Plants included : Pinus pinaster, Pinus larix, Artemisia 

 maritima, Artemisia Absinthium. 

 B. — Poisons acting on the Spinal Cord. 



CoNVTTLSiVES. — Symptoms : Clonic (intermittent) spasms, extending from 

 above downwards. Opisthotonos very violent; but trismus (lock-jaw) 

 rare. Swallowing spasmodic. Death, usually, in less than three hours, 

 or rapid recovery. 



British Plants included : none. 



C— Poisons acting on the Heart. 



1 . Depressants. — Symptoms : Vertigo ; vomiting ; abdominal pain ; con- 

 fused vision; convulsions; occasional delirium; paralysis; syncope; 

 sometimes asphyxia. 



British Plants included : Conium maculatum, Cytisus Scoparius. 



2. Asthenics. — Symptoms: Numbness, and tingling in the mouth; ab- 

 dominal pain; vertigo; vomiting; purging; tremor; occasional de- 

 lirium; paralysis; dyspnoea, ending in syncope. 



British Plants included : Prunus laurocerasus, (Phaseolus lunatus — 

 imported cattle food), Lathyrus aphaca, Rumex Acetosa, Aconitum 

 Napellus, Actaea spicata. Delphinium consolida, Digitalis purpurea, 

 Convallaria majalis, Colchicum autumnale. 



D.— Vegetable Irritants. 



1. Purgatives. — Symptoms: Abdominal pain; vomiting and purging; 

 cramps; strangury and tenesmus, followed by collapse, and sometimes 

 accompanied by drowsiness, and slight nervous symptoms. 



British Plants included : Sambucus nigra, Sambucus Ebulus, Helle- 

 borus viridis, Helleborus foetidus, Caltha palustris, Linum catharticum. 



2. Abortives. — Symptoms : Nausea ; vomiting ; stupor ; polyuria ; some- 

 times tenesmus. Abortion may or may not occur ; coma. 



British Plants included : Juniperus Sabina (cultiv. in Britain), Clavi- 

 ceps purpurea; Ruta graveolens (cultiv. in Britain). 



3. Irritants with Nervous Symptoms. — Symptoms: Abdominal pain; 

 vomiting and purging; dilated pupils; headache; tetanic spasms; 

 occasional convulsions ; sometimes rapid coma. 



British Plants included : Oenanthe crocata, Oenanthe Phellandrium, 

 Genanthe fluviatilis, Cicuta virosa, Aethusa Cynapium, Sium angusti- 

 folium, Taxus baccata, Cytisus Laburnum, Paris quadrifoha, Mercurialis 

 perennis. 



