n] Ranuneulaceae 13 



in the abdomen, followed by diarrhoea and general oedematous swelling 

 over the whole body," but they recovered (Johnson and Sowerby). 



REPEEENCES. 

 63, 81, 140, 190, 203, 213, 233. 



Hellebores {Helleborus sp.). Two poisonous species of hellebore 

 may on occasion be taken by hve stock, though rarely — Stinking 

 Hellebore {H. fostidus L.) and Green Hellebore {H: viridis L.). The 

 much esteemed Christmas Rose (H. niger) is also toxic, but imhkely to 

 be eaten by stock. In no case shoidd trimmings of these plants from 

 shrubberies, etc., be thrown to stock — cows have died from eating such 

 trimmings. The two species first mentioned are equally toxic, aU parts 

 are poisonous, and drying does not render them innocuous. Comevin 

 records that animals have been killed by H. foetidus, and says that 

 9^ oz. of the fresh root or 2|oz. of the dried root are poisonous doses to 

 the horse, while 120 to 150 grains are fatal to sheep. It was recorded 

 in 1847 (Veterinarian) by Mayer that a horse was fatally poisoned 

 through eating five half-pints of the chopped-up leaves of this species 

 in two days in a bran mash. In regard to this species also Johnson 

 and Sowerby write: "The Bear's-Foot has been used as a vermifuge 

 ever siace the days of Hippocrates, notwithstanding its dangerous 

 quahties. Every part of the plant is a violent cathartic, but far too 

 uncertain in the degree of its action to be safely administered." 



Toxic Principle. Both species contain the poisonous glucosides 

 Helleborin (C36H42O6), a highly narcotic and powerful poison; Helle- 

 borein (C2eH440i5) ; and the alkaloid Jervine (C26H57O3N2H2O). 



Symptoms. The Hellebores are cathartic, narcotic, and drastically 

 purgative. Stupor is followed by death with spasms in the case of 

 H. viridis (Pammel). In general there is in the horse and ox bloody 

 purgation, salivation, attempts to vomit, and excessive urination, 

 according to Lander, who cites Mayer as noting violent straining and 

 the discharge of frothy mucus, but no efEort to vomit, the heart action 

 resembling that observed in Digitalis poisoning, showing periodic in- 

 tervals of arrest in systole. 



Miiller gives the symptoms in cattle and sheep after eating the leaves 

 as loss of appetite, nausea, and even vomiting, salivation, grinding of 

 teeth, wind, cohc, bloody diarrhoea, decrepitude, giddiness, loss of 

 sensation, convulsions, and not seldom death. 



Affected cows are stated to give bitter milk which has purgative 

 effects (Pott). 



