12 PASTORAL AND AGRICULTURAL BOTANY 



VEGETABLE IRRITANTS 



I. Purgatives. 



Symptoms. Abdominal pain; vomiting, and purging, cramps stran- 

 gury and tenesmus, followed by collapse, and sometimes accompanied 

 by drowsiness, and slight nervous symptoms. 



Examples. Castor Bean (Ricinus communis), Green Hellebore 

 (Helleborus viridis), May Apple (Podophyllum peltatum), Marsh Marigold 

 (Caltha palustris). 



II. Abortives. 



Symptoms. Nausea; vomiting; stupor; sometimes tenesmus; abortion 

 may or may not occur; coma. 



Example. Ergot (Claviceps pur pur ea). 



III. Irritants with Nervous Symptoms. 



Symptoms. Abdominal pain; vomiting and purging; dilated pupils; 

 headache; tetanic spasms; occasional covulsions; sometimes rapid coma. 



Examples. Indian Pink (Spigelia marilandica) Fool's Parsley (Aeth- 

 usa Cynapium). 



IV. Simple Irritants. 



Symptoms. Burning pain in the throat and stomach; thirst; nausea; 

 vomiting; tenesmus; purging; dysuria; dyspnoea and cough occasionally, 

 death through shock; convulsions; exhaustion; or starvation due to 

 throat or stomach. 



Examples. Bouncing Bet (Saponaria officinalis) , Poison Ivy (Rhus 

 Toxicodendrori) , Kinnikinnik (Arctostophylos Uva-ursi). 



V. Simple Irritants when Taken in Large Quantities. 

 Symptoms. Burning pain in throat and stomach. Vomiting; purg- 

 ing; difficulty in swallowing. Recovery usual. 



Examples. White Mustard (Brassica alba), Black Mustard (B. 

 nigra), Black Pepper (Piper nigrum), Common Ginger (Zingiber offici- 

 nalis}. 



Conditions Influencing the Formation of Plant Poisons. The com- 

 mercial study of drug plants in which the substances used as drugs are 

 poisonous to animals in uncontrolled doses has shown that the amount of 

 poison found in the plant and its activity varies considerably. It has 

 been found by a comparative study of the drug content of such plants and 

 also by experimental investigation, that there are various conditions which 



