CUCURBITACEÆ.
Bryony (Bryonia dioica L.). This widely distributed hedge climber, which produces large quantities of scarlet berries, is a highly irritant plant, with an unpleasant odour and a nauseous juice. The large fleshy tuberous rootstocks have caused the poisoning of whole families who have eaten them in mistake for turnips and parsnips. The berries may tempt children, and cases of poisoning have occurred. Cornevin estimated that 15 berries would cause the death of a child and 40 that of an adult. No deaths of domestic animals have been observed in searching the literature, but animals may possibly eat it along the hedgerows at times when grass is scarce. Pigs might possibly eat sufficient of the rootstock, or poultry of the berries, to cause poisoning.
Toxic Principle. The plant contains the bitter and poisonous glucoside Bryonin (C34H48O9).
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.
Cases may end fatally.
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