POISONOUS PLANTS 243 



J. M. Sinclair* mentions the death of ostrich chicks, 

 whose stomachs were found to contain the thorn-apple seeds. 

 Ostrich poisoning by datura seeds is marked by staggering 

 gait and spasmodic jerking of the neck, with unnatural 

 contortions. Stupor and coma precede death (Walsh). 



In Sullivan's case j pint of 1 per cent, potassium per- 

 manganate was given every three hours, followed by suitable 

 doses of magnesium sulphate, and ordinary turpentine lini- 

 ment was applied to the lumbar regions and extremities. 

 There was recovery. 



The thorn-apple contains a mixture of atropine, hyos- 

 cyamine, and a little hyoscine, which used to be considered 

 a single substance, and called daturine. From the observa- 

 tions detailed it will be seen that datura operates similarly 

 to atropine, producing paralysis, causing dilatation of the 

 pupil, suspension of secretion, and of the inhibitory fibres 

 of the vagus, leading to the rapid action of the heart. 



Of the numerous exotic Solanacece which contain atropine, 

 or the allied alkaloids, the Mandragora officinalis, or man- 

 drake, contains mandragorine, which may be a mixture of 

 the better known alkaloids, and African varieties of Scopolia 

 appear to resemble hyoscyamine in effects. 



Solanum. 



Potato. — The unripe and green potato contain dangerous 

 quantities of solanin, and old and rotten or sprouting 

 tubers, which have been kept for a long time, are also 

 dangerous ; moreover, the alkaloid is most abundant in the 

 ' eyes ' and in the skin. Since, however, the potato is 

 usually boiled, in which case the alkaloid passes into the 

 water, poisoning in the human species is rare. 



Symptoms. — Potato poisoning amongst animals occurs 

 when green, old, or damaged tubers are fed in long-continued 

 and large quantities. After about a week of such feeding 

 the horse, as in a case noted by C. G. Saunders,t shows a 

 small and weak pulse, normal temperature, and loss of 



* Vet. Becord, 1898, p. 367. f V^*- ^^-i 1907, p. 699. 



