_Symptoms._ The symptoms are those resulting from inflammation of the stomach and intestines, together with convulsions. According to Cornevin consumption of the plant promotes sweating, and causes a livid hue, nausea, diuresis and abundant painless, watery defæcation, to which are added in cases of poisoning nervous symptoms of stupor and tetanic convulsions. There may be superpurgation or a suppression of defæcation.
Lander states that 2 lb. of fresh or 6 to 8 oz. of dried root given to _horses_ did not cause purging, but there was abdominal pain, loss of appetite, accelerated breathing, fever, dullness and copious urination.
=Cowbane= or =Water Hemlock= (_Cicuta virosa_ L.). This plant is undoubtedly exceedingly poisonous, and fatal cases have occurred in both man and farm live stock. It has been mistaken by man for parsley, celery or parsnip, with fatal results, many persons having succumbed to it. The rootstock is attractive to children on account of its sweetish taste. Pott says that either fresh or dry it is poisonous to all animals when only a small quantity is eaten, and often causes rapid death. Sheep and goats appear to be less readily affected than other domestic animals, and cattle to be most sensitive. The loss of eleven animals in Brittany was noted in the _Veterinarian_ in 1877, and a number of cattle died in Ireland (_Veterinary News_, 1911), death in both cases being due to Cowbane. It is clearly dangerous to grazing animals which have easy access to it, especially if ordinary herbage is scarce. Hedrick (Canada) is quoted as stating that a piece of the root about the size of a walnut is sufficient to kill a cow in about fifteen minutes; and Müller says that the quantity of dried plant sufficient to kill a horse appears to be about 1 lb. According to Kanngiesser the mortality in human poisoning due to this plant amounts to 45 per cent. of the cases.
_Toxic Principle._ The poisonous character of Cowbane has not been fully investigated, and the toxic principles are given as the alkaloid _Cicutine, with Oil of Cicuta_, and _Cicutoxine_. The last is a bitter resinous substance classed by Cushny in the picrotoxin group; it occurs in the dry root to the extent of 3·5 per cent. The toxicity is stated to vary with season and climate; the rootstock is most poisonous in spring.