POISONOUS PLANTS 147 



Animals do not eat the plant readily, even if kept from 

 other foods. If a dangerous quantity is taken, there is 

 intense irritation, purgation, and vomiting when possible, 

 ■with the after-effects of convulsions, exhaustion, and possibly 

 death from shock. 



In the Treatment of a case of poisoning demulcents and 

 stimulants are indicated. 



IRIDACE/E. 



The Iridaceae, or iris family, includes the numerous culti- 

 vated species of our gardens, and there are found in the wild 

 state. Iris pseudacoriis^ — yellow iris, yellow flag, or water flag; 

 and Iris fcetidissima — stinking iris, stinking gladwyn, or 

 glader. They contain as active principle iridin, a glucoside 

 belonging to the group of vegetable purgatives. Poisoning 

 of animals is rare, and the effects are those of a drastic 

 purgative. It will thus be sufficient to signalise the 

 possibility of danger through the giving of parts of such 

 plants to animals, especially to pigs. 



The American Gyrotheca capitata, red-root, or paint-root, 

 of the Atlantic coast and Cuba, belongs to the related order 

 of HamodoracecB, and has a red sap. It is supposed to be 

 dangerous to pigs. 



AMARYLLIDACEvE. 



The Amaryllidaceae, or amaryllis family, includes the 

 numerous species of narcissus or daffodil, so well-known as 

 garden plants, and of which some are frequently found wild, 

 probably having established themselves from garden culture. 

 The same order also includes the galanthus, or snowdrop. 

 None of these is likely to be the cause of poisoning, as 

 animals refuse the leaves. They all contain an essential oil, 

 and have powerful emetic and purgative properties. The 

 atamasco lily, Atamosco atamasco, of the South Eastern 

 United States, has been alleged to cause staggers in horses. 



