SECTION IV 
Poisonous Plants which are Rarely Observed 
to Cause Death in Animals 
Although this section consists of plants that have 
rarely been observed to cause the death of animals, and 
so may be thought of secondary importance to the veter- 
inarlan, farmer and stockman, yet animals may under 
exceptional circumstances be poisoned by them. Indeed, 
the aggregate loss from their agency is very consider- 
able, and diagnosis should not be considered complete 
until this section has been consulted. Included 
among them are some of the most virulently poisonous of 
plants, e.g., the “Death Cup” mushroom, whose baneful 
effects on human beings are widely known. Others con- 
tain epidermal poisons so strong that death has been re- 
ported to have resulted from mere contact with the 
bruised plants. Still others are the source of medicinal 
drugs. On this account and because, as pointed out in 
the introduction, Section IV contains by far the larger 
proportion of the plants that are poisonous to human 
beings, this section should prove of especial interest to 
medical men. 
FUNGI. 
AMANITA spp. 
The genus Amanita contains the most commonly 
known, as well as some of the most deadly of our poison- 
ous mushrooms or “toadstools” as they are colloquially 
called. The top of the cap may have various colours, but 
109 
