CH. vi] Idliaceae 79 



t 

 Symptoms. The plant is emetic, purgative, intensely acrid, and 

 narcotic. Poisoning up to the present only appears to have been re- 

 corded in fowls, the symptoms being intense local inflammation, narcotic 

 effects, vomiting, colic, diarrhoea, stupefaction, convulsions, and para- 

 lysis (Miiller). 



REFERENCES. 

 4, 16, 73, 76, 81, 130, 141, 190. 



Lily-of-the-Valley {Convdllaria majalis, L.). This beautiful plant 

 is only likely to induce poisoning of domestic animals at very rare 

 intervals, as it occurs wild in only a few woods from Moray southwards, 

 being, however, abundant in some districts. All parts are stated 

 to be poisonous, especially the flowers. It has an acrid, bitter taste. 

 Few cases of poisoning are recorded. Sheep and goats are beheved to 

 eat the leaves with impunity. The extract is so poisonous that four 

 drops injected into the blood stream sufficed to kill a dog in ten minutes 

 (Comevin). The leaves have been known to kO geese and fowls. 



Toxic Principle. All parts of the plant contain the bitter poi- 

 sonous glucoside Convallamarin (C23H44O12). the glucoside Paridin 

 {Ci^'S^O J + 213.^0), and the glucoside Gonvallarin (C34H62OU) — the 

 first a dangerous purgative, and the last a cardiac poison resembling 

 Digitalis. Convallamarin is a very poisonous crystaUiae substance, 

 with at first a bitter and afterwards a sweetish taste. 



Symptoms. The action of this plant on the animal organism is not 

 yet clearly known, but it is stated to have marked emetic and purgative 

 action. Taken in moderate quantities a period of retardation of the 

 heart and lung action is followed by a period in which the heart action 

 is intermittent, and there are stoppages in respiration, and vomiting. 

 Taken in large quantities, the first of these periods is extremely short, 

 the pulse soon becomes rapid and small, respiration is quickened, and 

 the heart action ceases (Comevin). 



Pott observes that the leaves cause stupefaction, convulsions, and 

 death after a few hours in the case of geese. He cites a case in which ten 

 fowls ate the leaves and nine died. 



REB^RBNCES. 

 52, 73. 76, 81, 190, 203, 205, 213. 



Meadow Saffron {Cohhicum aviumnale L.). The Meadow Saffron, 

 Autumn Crocus, or Naked Ladies, as it is variously named, occurs in 



