POISONOUS PLANTS 221 



and purgative action, the berries produce nervous effects 

 like drunkenness, involving excitement, then coma, laboured 

 respiration, and the like symptoms. Cases of the poisoning 

 of animals are not on record. The leaves are eaten by 

 cattle without effect; indeed, are sometimes given to sick 

 cows by country people as a dainty (Wallis Hoare). Birds 

 and small animals might possibly be poisoned by the 

 berries. 



CAPRIFOLIACEiE. 



Belonging to this family are the elders, Sambucus nigra, 

 the common elder, and Sambucus Ebulus, the dwarf elder. 

 The former is common in hedges, attains 8 to 15 feet, has 

 ovate leaves, white flower, and black berries; whilst the 

 latter is found on waste ground, reaches 2 to 3 feet, has 

 lanceolate leaves, pink flowers, and black berries. All parts 

 of these plants exhale a strong and repulsive odour, and have 

 been found to contain an emetic and purgative oil, a resin, 

 and traces of valeric acid. Animals do not eat the plant 

 spontaneously, and in the very rare eases of poisoning the 

 symptoms and lesions are those of superpurgation. 



VALERIANACE-ffil. 



Similar remarks to those above made apply to Valeriana 

 officinalis, common valerian, cat's valerian, or all-heal, and 

 V. diolca, or marsh valerian, which contain an essential oil, 

 or mixture of oils, and valeric acid. It is most unlikely that 

 sufficient of these plants would be eaten by animals to cause 

 serious functional disorder. 



DIPSACE^. 



A case of injury by Scabiosa succisa, or devil' s-bit, has 

 been placed on record by J. Moir.* Bullocks and heifers 



* Vet. Becord, 1899, p. 523. 



