PART II. 



THE TOXINS PROPER. 



CHAPTER III. 

 I. VEGETABLE AND ANIMAL TOXINS. 



The vegetable toxins possess the characteristic 

 property of being innocuous, and of being almost 

 completely devoid of poisonousness, when they are 

 absorbed by the intestines ; we can see, from this, 

 how greatly they differ from the poisons proper.* 



The vegetable toxins known are quite numerous; 

 nevertheless our knowledge regarding them is very 

 incomplete. Our review of them will be chiefly 

 descriptive. 



Many of the leguminous plants are poisonous, 

 either because of emanations exhaled by them, or 

 by reason of their alkaloids, or because of some 

 toxins contained in them. We shall commence 

 with these. 



Abrin. — This toxin, which was studied in par- 



* It is understood that the active principles of mushrooms 

 are not comprised under this definition, but they will be studied 

 under the next heading. 



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