76 MANUAL OF POISONOUS PLANTS 



II 



ABORTIVES 



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

 Abortion may or may not occur; coma. 



Treatment. ( Immediate : ) 



EMETIC and STOMACH TUBE. TANNIN. 



Ammonia or Amyl Nitrite to nostrils. 



(Later:) 



Opium to relieve pain. 



Stimulants to counteract collapse. 



DEMULCENTS (swallowed and injected). 



Plants producing poisons that act as abortives: Ergot (Claviceps pur- 

 purea}, Herb of Grace (Ruta graveolens), Cotton root (Gossypium herbaceum}, 

 Pulsatilla (Anemone patens, and its variety). 



Ill 



IRRITANTS WITH NERVOUS SYMPTOMS 



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

 ache; tetanic spasms; occasional convulsions; sometimes rapid coma. 



Treatment. ( Immediate : ) 



EMETIC and STOMACH TUBE. TANNIN. 



Opium to relieve pain. 



Stimulants to counteract collapse. 



Bleeding if necessary. 



(Later:) 



Castor Oil. 



DEMULCENTS (swallowed and injected). 



Plants furnishing poisons that act as irritants, causing also nervous symp- 

 toms: Indian Pink (Spigelia marilandica) , Cut-leaved Water Parsnip (Berula 

 erecta}, Fool's Parsley (Aethusa Cynapium). 



IV 



SIMPLE IRRITANTS 



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

 iting; tenesmus; purging; dysuria; dyspnoea and cough occasionally. Death 

 through shock; convulsions; exhaustion; or starvation due to injury to throat 

 or stomach. 



Some few (i. e. the Nettles) cause smarting pain on the merest contact 

 with the secretions of the plant; quickly followed by erythema and urticarial 

 rash, which slowly subsides. 



Treatment. (Immediate:) 



EMETIC and STOMACH TUBE. TANNIN. 



Opium to relieve pain. 



Stimulants to counteract collapse. 



Chloral and Bromides if convulsions. 



(Later:) 



Castor Oil. 



DEMULCENTS (swallowed and injected). 



Plants producing poisons that cause the above symptoms : Arrow Root 



