n] CaryophyUacesB 21 



It is clear that the evidence is quite sufficient to warrant the state- 

 ment that the ingestion of more than a very small quantity of cockle 

 seed is dangerous, and the consumption of even small quantities should 

 be avoided. Thus care should be taken to remove the seeds from cereal 

 grains. 



Toxic Principle. The dangerous substance contained in cockle 

 seeds is the glucoside variously known as Githagin, Saponin, Agrostemmin, 

 Sapotoxin, Agrostemma-Sapotpxin, or Smilacin (Ci7H260io)2 • This prin- 

 ciple appears to occur chiefly in the seeds, which contain up to 6*56 per 

 cent., but it has been found in small quantities in other parts of the 

 plant. It is very freely soluble in water, in which it froths like soap 

 when shaken up, and it has a sharp taste and no odour. 



Symptoms. A sufficient quantity of the toxic substance may cause 

 nervous debihty and dysentery — according to Chesnut "intense irrita- 

 tion of the digestive tract, vomiting, headache, nausea, vertigo, diarrhoea, 

 hot skin, sharp pains in the spine, difficult locomotion, and depressed 

 breathing. Coma is sometimes present and may be followed by death. 

 In animals chronic diarrhoea and gradual depression." 



The chronic form, which occurs when small doses are repeated over 

 a long period (practically the only form found in human beings, but 

 never in animals, except perhaps in the pig) is characterized by gradual 

 wasting away, loss of breath, loss of strength, chronic diarrhoea, and 

 nerve troubles, death taking place in marasmus and decline. The 

 active principle acts as an irritant on the digestive tract, causing coMc, 

 diarrhoea and enterorrhagia. 



Comevin describes the symptoms in the acute form of the poisoning 

 in the case of horses, cattle, pigs and dogs. 



In the horse, if a smaU quantity only is taken, there is yawning, 

 heavy cohc, stamping and evacuation of rather soft faeces. If larger 

 quantities are taken, the symptoms, which commence in about an 

 hour, are sahvation, frequent yawning and turning of the head, coUc, 

 pale mucus, hurried and weak pulse, rise in temperature and accelerated 

 respiration. Some time later there are muscular tremors succeeded by 

 pronounced rigidity, and the faeces are diarrhoeic and foetid. The 

 animal Ues down, and getting up is painful ; it falls into a kind of coma, 

 stretches itself to the utmost, and death takes place without convulsions. 



In cattle, the symptoms observed one hour after eating are restlessness, 

 salivation, and grinding of the teeth. Excitement and cohc are followed 

 sometimes by coughing, this state lasting from five to eight hours. There 

 is then a period of coma, characterized by permanent decubitus. 



