§§ 640-64 2 -] MALE FERN. 49I 
Some of the species of the same natural order growing in the tropics 
are far more intensely poisonous. 
§ 640. The Black Bryony. — Tamus communis, the black bryony, a 
common plant by the wayside, flowering in May and June, possesses 
poisonous berries, which have been known to produce death, with 
symptoms of gastro-enteritis. In smaller doses the berries are stated to 
produce paralysis of the lower extremities. 1 
§ 641. The Locust Tree. — The Robinia pseudo-acacia, a papilionaceous 
tree, contains a poison in the leaves and in the bark. R. Coltmann 2 
has recorded a case in China of a woman, 24 years of age, who, 
at a. time of famine, driven by hunger, ate the leaves of this tree. 
She became ill within forty-eight hours, with high fever ; the tongue 
swelled and there was much erysipelatous-like infiltration of the 
tissues of the mouth ; later, the whole body became swollen. There 
was constipation, and so much oedema of the eyelids that the eyeballs 
were no longer visible. Recovery took place without special treat¬ 
ment. Power and Cambier 3 have separated from the bark an albu- 
mose, which is intensely poisonous, and is probably the cause of the 
symptoms detailed. 
§ 642. Male Fern. —An ethereal extract of Aspidium Filix-mas is 
used as a remedy against tape-worm. 
Poullson 4 has collected up to the year 1891 sixteen cases of poisoning 
by male fern ; from which it would appear that 7 to 10 grms. (103 
to 154 grains) of the extract may be fatal to a child, and 45 grms. (rather 
more than 1J oz.) to an adult. The active principle seems to be filicic 
acid and the ethereal oil. Filicic acid, under the influence of saponify¬ 
ing agencies, breaks up into butyric acid and phloroglucin. 
The symptoms produced are pain, heaviness of the limbs, faintness, 
somnolence, dilatation of the pupil, albuminuria, convulsions, lockjaw, 
and collapse. In animals there have also been noticed salivation, amau¬ 
rosis, unsteady gait, dragging of the hind legs, dyspnoea, and paralysis 
of the breathing centres. The post-mortem appearances which have 
been found are as follows :—Redness and swelling with haemorrhagic 
spots of the mucous membranes of the stomach and intestines ; acute 
oedema of the brain and spinal cord with petechia in the meninges ; 
the kidneys inflamed, the liver and spleen congested, and the lungs 
oedematous. 
There is no characteristic reaction for male fern ; the research 
most likely to be successful is to attempt to separate from an ethereal 
extract filicic acid, and to decompose it into butyric acid and phloroglucin ; 
the latter tinges red a pine splinter moistened with hydrochloric acid. 
1 Contagne, Lyon med., xlvi. 239, 1884. 
2 Medical and Surgical Reporter, lxi., 1889. 
3 Pharm. Journ., 1890, p. 711. 4 Arch. exp. P., Bd. xxix. 
