CONIUM — LOBELIA 199 



it is in itself inert. Bitter almond oil is sometimes used as a 

 flavor. 



It is important to note in connection with these drugs that stock 

 frequently become poisoned from eating the wilted leaves of wild 

 cherry, due to the formation of hydrocyanic acid during the wilting 

 process. Occasionally corn and sorghum stalks cause the same 

 trouble. 



CONIUM 



Conium-spotted hemlock, " not hemlock," is the full-grown fruit 

 of Conium maculatum. It contains the alkaloid coniine (conine). 

 Doses. 



Coniinw Hydrohromidum. H. grs. % — 1^ ; 0.05 — 0.1. D. 

 gr. Yeo—Vso ; 0.001—0.002. 



Conium is a motor depressant but its only interest from a practi- 

 cal standpoint is its toxicology, as animals may eat a sufficient amount 

 of it to cause poisoning. The symptoms of poisoning are : dullness, 

 loss of muscular power, especially of the posterior extremities, stum- 

 bling or falling. Salivation, nausea, dilatation of the pupils and con- 

 vulsions may occur. The pulse becomes slow and feeble, breathing 

 very shallow, and the surface of the body cold. Paralysis is so com- 

 plete that the animal lies as helpless as though dead. In doiibtful 

 cases of poisoning, urine from a suspected animal may be injected 

 into frogs and if the case is one of conium poisoning, the frogs will 

 be afflicted in the same manner. 



Treatment. Evacuate the stomach, administer tannic acid as 

 the antidote, start artificial respiration, administer nerve stimulants 

 (strychnine, etc.), keep the animal warm. 



CUBARE 



Curare, a resinous extract containing the alkaloid, curarine, 

 is a South American arrow poison, probably derived from various 

 species of strychnos of South America. 



Curare has no action when administered per os on account of 

 its rapid elimination, but if it enters the circulatory system, through 

 an open wound or from subcutaneous injection, it paralyzes the motor 

 end plates in all striated muscle except the heart. It is not used in 

 medicine. 



LOBELIA 

 Synonym. Indian Tobacco 



Lobelia is the dried leaves and tops of Lobelia inflatus. It con- 

 tains a volatile liquid alkaloid, " lobeline," and resembles nicotine or 

 tobacco in action. 



