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MANUAL OF POISONOUS PLANTS 



Fig". 225. Aconite (Aconitutn Columbian- 

 um). a, flowering plant; b, seed capsule — 

 both one-third natural size. A poisonous plant 

 of the Western U. S. (U. S. Dept. Agr.) 



Fig. 226. Westerii aconite 

 (Aconitutn uncinatum). A poison- 

 ous plant in Eastern North Amer- 

 ica, from Pennsylvania to Iowa. 

 (Ada Hayden.) 



produced by the drug in the throat. Nausea and retching are observed in all animals, while 

 vomiting occurs in dogs and cats. The pulse and respiration are weakened and generally 

 retarded. After lethal doses these symptoms are intensified. We observe violent retching, 

 frequent and difficult attacks of swallowing, ejection of frothy mucus from the mouth, in 

 horses copious sweating; pulse first weak and infrequent, later rapid, running and almost 

 imperceptible; respiration slow, interrupted, and shallow, and reduction of temperature. 

 Death is preceded by muscular twitchings, in the horse, and loss of strength so that the 

 subject falls and is unable to rise; or in the case of cats and rabbits, the animals jump 

 vertically into the air, topple over backwards and go into convulsions, lying . helpless on their 

 side. The labial muscles are retracted and the lips drawn back, showing the teeth covered 

 with foam. The face is anxious, the eyeballs are retracted or protruded, and the pupils 

 more commonly dilated. Death takes place usually from asphyxia, occasionally from syn- 

 cope. The post mortem appearances are simply those resulting from asphyxia. 



The western aconite is bitter and retains its bitterness even on drying. 

 It also benumbs, according to Lloyd, just as does the European aconite. The 

 Lloyds quote Prof. Power in asserting that it contains some alkaloids, one 

 probably aconitifij and several other poisonous principles. According to Dr. 



