OLEACEÆ.
Privet (Ligustrum vulgare L.). The facts as to the poisonous character of Privet are by no means clear, but Taylor records a case in which three children who ate the berries were attacked by violent purging, and a boy and girl died. Turner observed a case in which horses died after eating Privet.
Toxic Principle. The Privet is stated to contain the poisonous glucosides Ligustrin and Ligustron, not mentioned by Van Rijn, who says it contains Syringin (C17H24O9), while Pammel (1911) adds the bitter glucosidal principle Syringopicrin (C26H24O17).
Symptoms. In horses Turner observed loss of power in the hind limbs, with a pulse of 50, temperature 102° F., slightly injected mucous membranes, and dilated pupils, with death in 36 to 48 hours. The berries are stated by Müller to cause sickness and diarrhœa.
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