REFERENCES.
[4], [16], [63], [64], [81], [128], [144], [161], [190], [205], [213].
Broom (Cytisus Scoparius Link.). This very plentiful and widely distributed plant is undoubtedly to some extent poisonous, though perhaps only feebly so in the quantities likely to be eaten by domestic animals. Blyth records 400 cases of poisoning from it, however. Very hungry animals might eat too much of it, and hence show symptoms of poisoning.
Toxic Principle. The plant contains the alkaloid Cytisine (C11H14N2O); also the volatile alkaloid Sparteine (C15H26N2), a single drop of which, according to Blyth, killed a rabbit, which showed symptoms similar to those of nicotine poisoning.
Symptoms. Taken in sufficient quantity broom induces narcotic poisoning, with symptoms resembling those caused by Coniine, with central nervous paralysis.
Cornevin gives the symptoms as similar to those due to C. Laburnum.
REFERENCES.
[4], [16], [82], [128], [203].
Indian Peas (Lathyrus sativus L.). A type of poisoning that deserves attention here is that known as Lathyrism, since it is due to the consumption of peas of the genus Lathyrus, the most dangerous being the “Indian Pea,” L. sativus. The peas of this plant (see Frontispiece) are small and dark-coloured, and are imported largely from India and other countries under the general name of Mutter peas, a name which they share with the ordinary pea Pisum sativum. In addition to the seeds of this species the seeds of two South European and North African species—L. Cicera and L. Clymenum—have commonly caused poisoning both in man and in animals, not infrequently leading to fatal results. Horses, cattle, sheep and pigs have been affected—horses particularly so—and many cases have been recorded in the veterinary journals since 1885. Very heavy losses have occasionally resulted from the use of the raw peas as a food for stock. For example, in 1884 Messrs. Leather of Liverpool had 35 out of 74 cart horses ill through eating Indian peas at the rate of 3 to 4 lb. per head per day. Of the 35 no less than 19 died, and 2 were slaughtered, while 14 recovered. In the famous Bristol Tramways case (1894) 123 out of 800 horses became ill owing to being fed on the peas of L. sativus, and many died. There are few records of harm to cattle, sheep and pigs, and Watt quotes Don to the effect that pigeons lose their power of flight by feeding on the peas. Very large quantities of the peas are used for feeding purposes, and the fact that the losses are not larger is probably because the peas only comprise a small proportion of the ration or are cooked before use.
After boiling or roasting the peas appear to be less harmful, as they are eaten in India when cooked, or ground into flour and converted into bread—though Cornevin states that drying and cooking does not destroy the toxicity, while boiling for some time showed that at any rate part of the toxic substance passed into the water, which became toxic and caused death, the boiled seeds losing the greater part of their poisonous property and not causing accidents when the water was rejected. MacDougall states that as far as experimental evidence was available (1894) it seemed to show that boiling the seeds before use renders them innocuous.