_Symptoms._ In a child which died, there were abdominal pain, a feeling
of sickness, and a tendency to lockjaw, and death supervened within an
hour; and in a German case, vomiting, diarrhœa, lockjaw, and death in 24
hours. (Johnson and Sowerby.) The plant causes convulsions and stupor,
with nausea and vomiting (Henslow).
The symptoms observed in _cows_ are loss of appetite, salivation, fever,
uncertain gait, and paralysis of hind limbs (Müller).
Pott refers to a case which occurred in Guernsey among _horses_. Animals
with white muzzles and feet had diarrhœa, while other horses remained
healthy. All white places on the body were badly inflamed. Pammel states
that the plant causes stupor, paralysis and convulsions in domestic
animals.
REFERENCES.
45, 73, 81, 121, 130, 141, 190, 203, 213, 214.
=Chervils= (_Chaerophyllum_ sp.). No investigation of these plants
appears to have been undertaken, but _C. sylvestre_ L., though eaten by
some animals, including the ass and the rabbit, is stated by a German
observer (_vide_ Cornevin) to have caused the death of pigs. Müller
states that according to the literature both cows and pigs have been
poisoned, even fatally, by _C. temulum_ L. The plants have a strong
odour and acrid taste.
_Toxic Principle._ This, if any, appears to be unknown, though Müller
(1897) says that _C. temulum_ contains in all its parts the little known
_Chaerophyllin_ (? alk.).
_Symptoms._ The pigs referred to above as having died were said to show
paralysis, dilated pupils, and enteritis, and to refuse food. Postmortem
examination showed acute gastro-intestinal inflammation. In the case of
cows there are similar symptoms.
REFERENCES.
73, 190.
=Hemlock= (_Conium maculatum_ L.). This plant, famous from ancient times
as extremely poisonous, has a fœtid, disagreeable odour—a mousy
smell—especially noticeable when the plant is bruised. It has caused
human poisoning in three ways: the seeds have been eaten in error for
anise, the leaves for parsley, and the roots for parsnips.
Animals rarely appear to eat this plant, but cases have been recorded.
It is stated that in the United States many domestic animals have been
killed by it; and Ewart says that it is responsible for poisoning a
number of cows in Victoria. Goats are believed to be largely immune to
the poison, or are less harmed than other animals, and sheep are stated
to eat the plant with impunity, though cases of poisoning are recorded.
Johnson and Sowerby state that horses have occasionally swallowed
considerable quantities without apparent effect, while Cornevin remarks
that to cause death a horse would need to eat 4 to 5½ lb. of the fresh
plant, or a cow 8¾ to 11 lb.
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