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On the Action of Senecio Alkaloids and the Causation of Hepatic 

 Cirrhosis in Cattle. {Preliminary Note.) 

 By Arthur E. Cushnt, F.E.S. 



(Eeceived May 25, — Eead June 15, 1911.) 

 (From the Pharmacological Laboratory, University College, London.) 



The various species of Senecio in this country are generally regarded as 

 harmless, the chief of them being the common ragwort and the common 

 groundsel. In Nova Scotia, New Zealand, and South Africa they have, 

 however, been associated with hepatic cirrhosis in cattle, which is known as 

 Pictou, Winton, and Molteno disease in these countries. The species which 

 induces this condition in Canada and New Zealand is apparently identical 

 botanically with the common ragwort of this country, Senecio Jacobcea, while 

 in South Africa the Molteno disease is associated with the Senecio Burchellii 

 and the Senecio latifolius. 



The symptoms of the disease are practically identical in these localities. 

 The cattle are observed to be badly nourished for some time, but definite 

 symptoms appear only three or four days before death, commencing in 

 diarrhoea, dry and staring coat, and disinclination to feed. The cattle then 

 lie down, or sometimes become frenzied and charge anyone who approaches. 

 Soon coma and unconsciousness set in, and death follows. 



The liver is found to present the appearance of chronic cirrhosis in some 

 cases, in others there is marked venous congestion 6"f this organ. The 

 gall-bladder is distended with viscous, generally dark-coloured, bile, and 

 there may be petechia; in this organ, in the urinary bladder, and heart. 

 The fourth stomach contains haemorrhages and sub-mucous exudations. 

 The intestine is inflamed around the openings of the bile ducts. 



The disease being of great economic importance, a number of investi- 

 gations have been instituted, which have proved that it is due to feeding on 

 these species of Senecio. 



With regard to the chemistry of the Senecio genus, Grandval and Sejour 

 found two alkaloids in the common groundsel, which they term senecionine 

 and senecine, and Watt found two others in the Senecio latifolius of Cape 

 Colony, and has named them senecifoline and senecifolidine. These two 

 bases were sent to me for pharmacological examination by Prof. W. E. 

 Dunstan, and I have done a number of experiments with them, chiefly 

 upon cats. 



