THE LARKSPURS AS POISONOUS PLANTS. 1 
A striking feature about these rabbits is that in some cases while 
the dose was not sufficient to kill immediately they gradually lost 
in weight, probably a direct result of the irritation of the gastro- 
intestinal tract. This condition may find its parallel in stock re- 
moved from a Delphinium area. Knowles* and Wilcox? have 
claimed that the inhalation of a few drops of ammonia and the hypo- 
dermic injection of atropin,;'5 to + gram (1 mg. to 15 mg.) for sheep, 
or 1 gram (60 mg.) for cattle, is the most effective medicinal treat- 
ment. Elimination by purgatives and diuretics may aid. If pos- 
sible, absorption from the gastro-intestinal tract should be hindered, 
perhaps by lard, but the real treatment 1s preventive. 
One member of the genus Delphinium, /). staphisagria, has been 
studied carefully, and a number of bases (delphinin, delphinoidin, 
staphisagrin) isolated, but much is still to be desired in the way of 
exact knowledge concerning these bodies. Delphinin has a local irri- 
tative action. Its systemic action 1s mainly paralytic on the heart and 
respiration, and resembles that of aconitin in many respects.? Post- 
mortem examinations in poisoning by mouth with this body showed 
marked reddening of the stomach. In a number of Van Praag’s 
experiments with feeding solutions of Delphinium a marked increase 
in urinary secretion was noted.° Delphinium consolida has also re- 
ceived some attention chemically,’ while D. leroyi, D. peregrinum, 
and DP. mauritanicum have been shown to produce poisoning 
experimentally.’ 
Recently Delphinium bicolor, D. menziesii, D. nelsoni, and D. 
scopulorum stachydeum have been found to yield an alkaloid, delpho- 
curarin,’ which has been introduced as a substitute for curare in 
«Knowles, M. EK. Larkspur Poisoning in Sheep and Cattle. New York Med. 
Jour., vol. 66, p. 271. 1897. 
b Wilcox, E. V. Larkspur Poisoning of Sheep, p. 45. 
e Dragendorff and Marquis. Ueber d. Alkaloide des, Delphiniums staphis- 
agria. Arch. f. Exp. Path. u. Pharmakol., Vol: (ips Dow Tent 
Kara-Stojaiow, C. Ueber d. Alkaloide d. Delphinium staphisagria. Pharm. 
Zeits. f. Russland, 1890, vol. 29, pp. 628, 641, 657, 678, 689, 705, 721. 
@Tamburini, N., and Leone, A. Azoine fisiol. della Delfinina. Gior. Internaz. 
d. Sci. Med., mw. s., vol. 3, p. 985. 1881. 
Orfila, M. Traité de toxicologie, 5 ed., vol. 2, p. 188. 1852. 
eVan Praag, J. L. Delphinin. Arch. f. Path. Anat., vol. 6, p. 439. 1854. 
Sereck. J. Beitr. z. Kennt. d. Delphinins. Dorpat Diss. 1874. 
Darbel, A. Recherch. Chim. et physiol. sur les alcaloides du Delphinium 
staphisagria. Montpellier. These. 1864. 
f Masing, E. Ueber d. Alkaloid d. Feldrittersporns. D. consolida. Pharm. 
Zeits. f. Russland, vol. 22, p. 33. 1883. 
9 Rochebrune, A. T. de. Toxicol. Africane, vol. 1, pp. 152, 161, 353. 1896. 
h Feinde der Haustiere und ihre giftige Principen (Delphocurarin). Pharm. 
Centr., vol. 44, p. 918. 1903. 
ets 
ee ee 
