POISONOUS PLANTS 151 



raised to the surface of the ground by the lengthening 

 of the peduncle, soon after which the leaves wither away.'* 

 The habitat is in moist meadows and pastures. It is rare 

 in Ireland, and naturalised in Scotland. 



Toxic Principle and Doses.— Colchicum contains in all 

 parts the active alkaloids colchicine and colchiceine (about 

 0'05 per cent.), which is not destroyed on drying or on 

 boiling, passing into the water. Poisoning of animals may 

 result in the spring from the eating of the young leaves, or 

 in autumn through the flowers in pastures. 



Cornevin estimates the toxic dose of green leaves per 

 pound body weight of the ox at 60 to 75 grains, and of the 

 bulb for pigs at 3 grains per pound. 



Colchicine, being absorbed slowly, only exercises its 

 effects after a comparatively long period, and is gradually 

 eliminated, mainly by the urine and milk, so that there is 

 danger of a cumulative effect. Its most marked effect is as 

 a violent purgative, animals suffering from it passing foetid, 

 green or black evacuations. The nervous symptoms of 

 stupor, coma, and paralysis, are probably referable to the 

 general collapse, rather than to a specific action. Death 

 occurs from respiratory failure. 



Symptoms. — The general toxic symptoms occur after 

 several hours, and death up to several days, according to 

 the amount ingested. Nausea, abdominal pain, violent 

 purgation, sometimes prolapses of the rectum, cessation of 

 urination, and lactation, tympanites, gritting of teeth, weak 

 pulse, coldness, progressive loss of power from posterior 

 onwards, are features of this poisoning (^' ^' ^' *). 



Barret and Kemlinger* observed sudden illness of thirty- 

 one out of fifty-one cattle, and five deaths. Calves showed 

 slight affection through the secretion of the poison into the 

 milk. 



Post-Mortem Appearances are those of acute gastro- 

 enteritis, the rumen distended, and probably containing 

 leaves or seeds of the plant. The other organs do not show 

 notable or characteristic appearances. 



* Bentham and Hooker. 



