Other Vegetable Irritants. 287 



It may be added that the plants credited with causing the 

 "loco" disease (Astragalus mollissimus, Hornii, and lenti- 

 ginosus, the oxytropis Lambertii, mutifloris and deflexa) 

 cause diarrhoea and sometimes ulceration of the intestines. 



The farina of mustard is sometimes mixed with linseed cake 

 and (developing the active principles of that agent) produces a 

 severe or even fatal gastro-enteritis in cattle and sheep. The 

 wild mu.stard of the fields, being allowed to grow with the flax, 

 or rape, the seeds mingle when harvested and thus the cake comes 

 to contain an injurious quantity of the mustard. 



Symptoms. These will vary much according to the predomin- 

 ating action of the individual poison on other organs, but when 

 they irritate the gastro-intestinal mucosa they have this in com- 

 mon, that they impair appetite and rumination, produce colicy 

 pains (perhaps .salivation and vomiting), and constipation or 

 diarrhoea of varying intensity. 



Treatment. Apart from the individual treatment demanded by 

 the special symptoms of disorder of other organs, it may follow 

 the .same general line for all : Unload the stomach by tepid water, 

 ipecacuan, with tickling of the soft palate, or by the stomach 

 pump or tube, and follow this by abundance of mucilaginous 

 drinks. In cases attended by constipation a laxative of Glauber 

 salts, or aloes may be demanded, or as.siduous mucilaginous injec- 

 tions. With an excess of irritation anodynes may be indicated. 

 When there is tympany and fcetor of the discharges these must be 

 met by non-irritant antiseptics, .such as naphthalin or salol. For 

 many of the vegetable poisons tannic acid proves advantageous, 

 being at once an antiferment, and fitted to unite with organic 

 alkaloids, rendering them le.ss soluble and otherwise often chang- 

 ing their properties. 



Prevention should be sought by removing all such poisonous 

 plants from pastures, or land used for raising fodder crops. 



