POISONOUS PLANTS 191 



separated in the search for volatile poisons, and its 

 characteristic odour suffices for its recognition. When in 

 sufficient quantity it may be got pure and definitely identi- 

 fied by its physical properties. 



EEFEBENCES TO CRUCIFEE^ AND ONION. 



1 W. W. Goldsmith, Jl. Comp. Path., 1909, p. 151. 



» C. E. Dayus, Vet. Becord, 1906, p. 155. 



3 D. Fairbank, Vet. Becord, 1906, p. 117. 



< W. E. Litt, Vet. Becord, 1894, p. 546. 



= Cozetta, Vet. Jl, 1905, p. 95. 



« F. J. Eoub, Vet. JL, 1902, p. 166. 



' J. Gerrard, Veterinarian, 1875, p. 396. 



^ J. W. Anderton, Vetervna/rian, 1861, p. 265. 



VIOLACEiE. 



The members of this family, well known in Viola odorata, 

 the common violet, contain the active principle iridin of the 

 iridaceee (q.v.). The poison is contained in the roots, and 

 when these are eaten symptoms of nausea, vomiting, 

 nervous, respiratory, and cardiac disturbances are set up. 

 Poisoning is, however, very rare, and the possibility of its 

 occurrence alone warrants its inclusion here. 



CARYOPHYLLACEiE. 



This family includes the genera Saponaria, Lychnis, 

 Arenana, and Stellaria, members of which are poisonous. 



Botanical Characters. — Saponaria is represented by 

 S. officinalis, soap-wort, hedge-pink, or crow-soap. It 

 frequents hedge-banks and waste places, attains a height of 

 about 2 feet, and is a perennial. The leaves are ovate, 

 lanceolate, and opposite ; calyx cylindrical, petals pink, and 

 flowers in August. 



Lychnis is represented by L. Githago Scop. (Fig. 25) 

 (Agrostemma Githago Linn.), the corn-cockle, in cornfields. 

 It attains 2 to 3 feet, is covered with silky hairs, and bears 

 purple flowers in July. The seeds are small, dark coloured, 

 and wrinkled, and number thirty to forty in a capsule. 



