POISONOUS PLANTS 185 



Actsea. — This genus is represented by the rare Actcea 

 spicata, baneber^-y, or herb Christopher, very local in Britain, 

 and only found in the northern counties. It is found in 

 mountain woods, and has white flowers and black berries. 

 The active principle is apparently an essential oil. When 

 eaten in sufficient quantities, the plant causes violent gastro- 

 enteritis, purgation, and vomition, followed by drunkenness 

 and delirium. The nature of the toxic substance and the 

 effects merit further study. 



In America there occur A. alba, white baneberry, and 

 A. rubra, red baneberry, but animals refuse the plants, so 

 poisoning is unlikely. 



PAPAVERACE^. 



Poisonous members of this order belong to the genera 

 Papaver, Roemeria, Chelidonium, and Glauciw7i. 



Papavep. 



The opium poppy, Papaver somniferum, occasionally as- 

 sumes the wild state in England in cornfields and in the 

 fens. Poisoning by it is most unlikely, and, should it occur, 

 will recall that of opium or morphine (q.v.). 



The common cornfield red poppy, P. Rhoeas, is so well 

 known as not to require description in this place. 



Active Principle. — The red leaves are sometimes used 

 to make coloured syrup for medicines (syrupus rhceados), 

 and are harmless. The plant does not contain the opium 

 alkaloids, but yields a sparingly soluble alkaloid, rhoeadine, 

 decomposed by warm diluted acids with formation of a 

 blood-red colour. 



Symptoms. — Fatal poisoning by the common poppy is 

 rare, but its possibility ought to be kept in mind in those 

 conditions where animals might get it along with fodder on 

 account of its relative abundance. 



The plant causes in the ox arrest of digestion, following 

 a period of excitement. Immobility, coma, low tempera- 



