68 Euphorbiacese [ch. 



witt bacon. FiBhermen ate it with soup and all were seriously ill an 

 hour later, with symptoms of irritant narcotic poisoning; two children 

 died the next day. Comevin saw M. annua used, after boiUng, as a 

 food for pigs, without ill consequences, in the east of France. This is 

 beheved to be due to the poison being volatile and destroyed by heat 

 or boiling; hence in hay the plant is harmless, though Pott says that 

 even in hay stock avoid it. 



Toxic Principle. The poisonous properties are said to be due to 

 MercuriaUne, Oil of Euphorbia, a volatile toxic alkaloid. Esser states 

 that the stem and leaves of M. annua contain Trimeihylamine, which 

 may perhaps be a decomposition product of Choline, a poisonous base. 



Symptoms. Both plants are emetic and dangerously purgative, 

 causing irritant and narcotic symptoms. Veterinary observation has 

 shown that the poison is cumulative, and that it is usually after the weed 

 has formed part of the food for 7, 8, or 10 days that symptoms first 

 appear. In the case recorded by Blackhurst (see above) the cows 

 suffered from inflammation of the digestive tract, with severe purging 

 and loss of blood. The secretion of milk entirely stopped. One cow 

 died, but three recovered in about four days. The fifth was not con- 

 valescent for three weeks and then had a permanently curved and in- 

 jured neck, the muscles being subsequently found rich in fibrous tissue, 

 and the last three joints partially anchylosed. Rabbits were tested by 

 feeding two on the leaves, two on the stems and roots, and two on the 

 ground seeds mixed with oatmeal; the first two were unaffected, but 

 the other four died in a few hours, showing drowsiness and suffering, 

 while the post-mortem showed gastritis. 



The digestive and urinary tracts are affected. There is indigestion 

 with slight bloating, then cohc of varjdng intensity, and at first diarrhoea 

 which may give place later to constipation ; hsematuria ; micturition is 

 frequent, painful, and the urine is blackish and bloody ; dullness, weak- 

 ness, loss of appetite and refusal of food ; the heart beats very strongly, 

 the pulse is rapid, and the mucous membrane of the eye is reddish- 

 yeUow in colour. There is no modification of respiration (Comevin). 



According to Miiller, however, the symptoms at first include consti- 

 pation and later severe and bloody diarrhoea. 



In cattle Pott states that M. annua causes inflammation of the 

 stomach and intestines, bloody urine, paralysis of bladder, foetid diarrhoea, 

 abortion, and bluish coloured milk deficient in fat. Miiller states that 

 there is occasionally blood in the milk. According to Lander there is 

 in cows excessive bloody purgation, cessation of lactation, temperature 



