266 VETEEINARY TOXICOLOGY 



tion, although this is more usual, the beans being con- 

 siderably more active than the oil. In a case observed in 

 the horse,* there was complete loss of appetite, shivering, 

 coldness of extremities, dejection, abdominal pain, and con- 

 stipation. Temperature 103° F., pulse 70, and death in 

 about three days. 



A case is noted by Chambers, + in which death occurred 

 in cattle after external application of castor oil and lubri- 

 cating oil against ticks. It probably does not illustrate 

 ricine poisoning, but displays the possible ill-effect of large 

 quantities of the oil. 



The Post-Mortem Appearances after ingestion of the 

 beans are those of intense gastro-enteritis. 



Amongst the Leguminosce the seed of A hrus precatorius, 

 the crab's eye, or jequirity pea, contains the toxine abriiie, 

 and the leaves and bark of the American Robinia pseudacacia, 

 or locust-tree, contain the toxine robine. The seed of abrus 

 is about the size of a small pea, bright red in colour, and 

 has a black spot. Abrine is less toxic than ricine, but 

 has similar effects — indeed, Ehrlich only clearly differen- 

 tiated the two toxines from the fact that anti-ricine is 

 powerless against abrine, and similarly anti-abrine is of no 

 avail against ricine. 



It exercises a very powerful irritant action on the con- 

 junctivae, and has on this account found application in 

 ophthalmic therapy. 



The natives of India practice malicious poisoning by 

 inserting splinters impregnated with abrus under the skins 

 of beasts. This malpractice was detected by Calmette by 

 means of the specific anti-abrine. The Quarterly Journal 

 of Veterinary Science in India, 1883, p. 375, gives an 

 account of such a poisoning, in which a spike 1^ inches 

 long and | inch at the thick end was inserted under the 

 skin. It had a dark green colour, weighed 12 grains, and 

 contained datura opium, abrus (or gunchi) seeds, onion, and 

 spirit daru. 



* Broad, Vet. Becord, 1896, p. 226. 

 t Vet. Jl., 1910, p. 717. 



