Some other solanaceous plants—Solanum Dulcamara, Bittersweet or Woody Nightshade, Solanum nigrum, or Garden Nightshade, and the Solanum tuberosum, or Potato—possess poisonous properties. They, like the other members of the order to which they belong, give rise to symptoms characterised by giddiness, dimness of sight, trembling of the limbs, and delirium. The water in which the potato has been boiled is sometimes used by the vulgar as an application to favus of the scalp.
The active principle of these plants resides in an alkaloid, Solanine, which is not a very powerful poison. A rabbit has been killed in a few hours by two grains of the sulphate of solanine.
ŒNANTHE CROCATA
Hemlock-Dropwort, or Dead-tongue, is a poisonous indigenous, umbelliferous plant.
Accidental poisoning by this plant has occurred, the root having been mistaken for parsnip. The symptoms in one of the cases which have been recorded were those of delirium tremens; in another, which terminated fatally, vomiting of blood was followed by convulsions. First contraction and then dilatation of the pupil, spasmodic respiration, and an almost imperceptible pulse were the effects noticed. Death may take place in a few hours.
Post-mortem Appearances.—Congestion of the vessels of the brain, and gastric irritation. The face has sometimes a bloated expression, and blood may escape from the ears and mouth.
Treatment.—Purgatives and emetics, to evacuate the bowel and stomach, and thus get rid of the poison.
CAMPHOR
Camphor is a concrete vegetable oil obtained from Camphora officinarum (N.O. Lauraceæ). Its employment for the purpose of homicide is rare, but several cases of accidental poisoning from the use of the homœopathic solution have been recorded (British Medical Journal, 1873, vol. ii. p. 617).
The symptoms are—languor, giddiness, delirium, foaming at the mouth, vomiting of blood-tinged fluid, convulsions, gastric irritation, and great abdominal pain. In one case—that of a young lady aged twenty, who took twenty-five drops of “Epps‘ Concentrated Solution of Camphor” for a sore throat—all the above-mentioned symptoms were present; she was also unconscious for several hours, and partially paralysed for several days—perfect recovery from the nervous symptoms not taking place for more than six months.