626 MANUAL OF POISONOUS PLANTS 



The fact that the bark of cotton root should be possessed of such active properties is an 

 interesting and suggestive one, for it affords the only instance of specific virtues attributed to a 

 plant of the order Malvaceae. It will be noted that it is only the bark of the root that 

 possesses these properties, all of the other parts of the plant partaking of the bland character 

 of the order the seeds especially, which not infrequently possess the most active principles 

 of plants, in this instance yielding a bland oil which is largely used as an adulterant of olive 

 oil. Now in an order of plants of such strongly marked characteristics as the Malvaceae, the 

 discovery of striking properties in any individual should stimulate investigation of other re- 

 lated individuals, for it may reasonably be assumed that investigation which starts with a 

 rational clue will be more fruitful in results than if conducted entirely in a haphazard manner. 

 Cotton seed is often injurious to animals. 



In Friedberger and Frohner's Veterinary Pathology, Capt. Hayes writes 

 as follows: 



OnJy young animals are usually affected. They display disorder of digestive and urinary 

 apparatus: tympanites, diarrhoea (afterwards bloody), haemorrhage from the urinary organs, 

 albuminaria, strangury and paralysis of the bladder. Duration is variable. Autopsy reveals 

 in the acute form haemorrhagic gastro-enteritis, opaque swelling of the liver and kidneys, 

 oedema of the lungs, dark red urine, collection of liquid in the cavities of the body. There is 

 jo enlargement of the spleen. 



The liver is opaque and swollen. In chronic cases only, one finds general 

 emaciation and dropsical phenomena. In dairy cows it induces garget and 

 mammitis. Cotton seed oil cake contains a poisonous principle ricin. 



The investigations Prof. M. B. Hardin of South Carolina made in 1892 in- 

 dicated the presence of meta and pyrophosphoric acid in cotton seed meal. He 

 suggested that these acids are poisonous. Dr. Crawford of the U. S. Dept. of 

 Agrl. has recently investigated the subject arid concludes that the pyroprosphoric 

 acid is toxic. The seed from upland cotton is more toxic than the Sea Island. 

 The toxic effect may be increased by heating; when the temperature rises high, 

 this is due to the corversion of the orthophosphoric acid into the pyro form. The 

 investigations of Dr. Crawford are very important. 



Malvastrum Gray 



Herbs with entire cordate or divided leaves; flowers solitary or racemose, 

 short pedicelled; involucrate, or none; calyx 5-cleft; petals 5, notched at the 

 end or entire ; styles 5 or more ; stigmas capitate ; carpels indehiscent or imper- 

 fectly 2-valved ; seed kidney-shaped. About 75 species, natives of America and 

 South Africa. 



Malvastrum coccincuin (Pursh.) Gray. False Mallow 



A low hoary, perennial herb, with dense silvery stellate pubescence; lower 

 feaves pedately 3-5 parted ; flowers small, red, in dense, short racemes, usually 

 without bractlets ; calyx lobes shorter than the pink-red petals ; carpels 10 or 

 more, indehiscent, rugose, and usually 1 -seeded. 



Distribution. From South Dakota to Texas. New Mexico to British Colum- 

 bit. 



Poisonous properties. Has been suspected of being poisonous, but there is 

 no evidence to support this view. Profs. Chesnut and Wilcox regard the plant 

 as non-poisonous. Some ranchers consider that it may be the cause of loco 

 poisoning. 



Abutilon (Tourn.) Mill. Indian Mallow 



Herbaceous or shrubby plants, or in the tropics, trees with soft, pubescent 

 leaves and stems : involucral bracts none ; calyx 5-cleft ; petals 5 ; styles 5 or 



