OEGANIG POISONS AND DEUGS 123 



but not in Great Britain, but the chief source of veratrine 

 is the Mexican Sabadilla officinalis. With it are associated 

 the alkaloids veratroidine and jervine. 



Toxic Doses. — Veratrine is an exceedingly poisonous 

 alkaloid, the toxic doses given by Kaufmann being : 



According to Cornevin, 1 gramme per kilogramme body 

 weight of the fresh root of Veratrum album kills the horse, 

 and 2 grammes per kilogramme the cow. 



Symptoms. — Dogs to which veratrine is given hypo- 

 dermically salivate profusely, perform movements of 

 mastication and deglutition, and vomit profusely (eventu- 

 ally mucus). Similar symptoms affect horses and cattle, 

 and actual vomition occurs with the latter. In all cases 

 there is profuse purgation, and frequently excessive urina- 

 tion. After a period of excitability there is calmness, 

 prostration, inability to rise, and inco-ordinated movements 

 of the members. There is an increase in muscular 

 contractibility accompanied by a marked prolongation of 

 the period of relaxation. 



Poisonous doses lead to a weak, irregular pulse, owing 

 to the effects on the heart muscle, inhibitory apparatus, 

 and vasomotor centres. The respiration is deep and slow, 

 and death occurs in convulsions or paralysis. 



J. B. Cresswell* saw a horse seriously poisoned three 

 hours after having been given a ball containing Veratrum 

 album as a remedy for grease. There was continual retch- 

 ing, but no actual vomiting ; pulse 86, irregular and feeble ; 

 respiration 68. 



Post-Mortem Appearances. — These are more or less 

 extensive inflammation and hssmorrhagic patches in the 

 pyloric end of the stomach, and in the intestines. The 

 bladder is empty, kidneys inflamed, and liver often but not 

 always congested. The blood is black and fluid. 



* Veterinarian, 1886, p. 227. 



