=Cuckoo Pint= (_Arum maculatum_ L.). The well-known Cuckoo Pint, or Lords and Ladies, is to be regarded as highly poisonous, and children have died from eating the berries. Animals have exceptionally eaten the plant, but no record of death has been found, as it does not appear to be taken in sufficient quantity. Cornevin records that pigs have eaten the roots, and suffered in consequence, though the results were not fatal. All parts of the plant are poisonous, though the virulence is lost on drying. The plant is acrid, and emits a disagreeable smell when bruised. In Gerarde’s _Herball_ the following passage occurs: “The most pure and white starch is made from the rootes of the Cuckowpint; but most hurtfull for the hands of the laundresse that hath the handling of it, for it choppeth, blistereth, and maketh the hands rough and rugged, and withall smarting.” In Dorset the tuber-like corms have been macerated in water, dried and powdered, and eaten under the name Portland Sago or Portland Arrowroot, the poisonous property being dissipated. _Toxic Principle._ The Cuckoo Pint does not seem to have received much attention in this connection, but the poisonous principle is believed to be a _Saponin_. _Symptoms._ The juice acts as an irritant when in contact with the mucous membrane. When a _pig_ has eaten several roots rich in sap, the mouth and tongue redden and tumefy, there is salivation, and swallowing is difficult on account of the inflammation at the back of the mouth. Introduced in small quantity into the digestive tract it acts as an irritant and purgative, and sometimes causes vomiting. Severe intestinal pains, excitement, some muscular contraction of the limbs, rocking of the head, and superpurgation with tenesmus are also symptoms which have been observed. The intestinal pains continue for some days and the appetite is small. Cornevin states that animals never take a sufficient quantity to cause _fatal_ poisoning, but according to Lander, if a dangerous quantity is taken, convulsions, exhaustion, and death from shock may possibly follow the foregoing symptoms. A case in which a _horse_ was poisoned through a wound being washed with a decoction of arum leaves is cited by Müller. There was much local swelling, trembling, and rapid breathing, and the heart beat strongly; the animal died on the third day. REFERENCES. 73, 81, 130, 141, 170, 190. CHAPTER VI DIOSCORIDEÆ. =Black Bryony= (_Tamus communis_ L.). The stem and foliage of Black Bryony are apparently harmless, being browsed by sheep and goats with impunity, but the scarlet fruits are decidedly poisonous and the starchy root is acrid and purgative. _Toxic Principle._ This is probably the glucoside _Bryonin_, which occurs in _Bryonia dioica_ (p. 35).