Symptoms.—The symptoms which have been noticed in poisoning by this substance are—nausea, vomiting, severe abdominal pains, stupor, and intoxication. Two deaths at least have been reported as resulting from it. In the case of R. v. Cluderay, “the defendant administered to a child two cocculus indicus berries, entire in the pod, with intent to murder the child.” The kernel is a poison; the pod is not, and will not dissolve in the stomach; and they were therefore harmless. This was held to be administering poison with intent to murder, within the section of the Statute.
Picrotoxin, the alkaloid, is in fine white crystals, intensely bitter to the taste, soluble in boiling water, slightly so in cold. Alcohol and ether readily dissolve it. Strong nitric acid dissolves it, without change of colour; and sulphuric acid produces an orange-yellow colour, changed to pale yellow by dilution. In organic liquids it might be mistaken for sugar, or vice versa, as it precipitates the oxide of copper when boiled with the sulphate of copper and potash. In examining beer supposed to be adulterated with picrotoxin, the beer should be acidulated with hydrochloric acid, and then shaken up with ether. On spontaneous evaporation of the ether, the picrotoxin is left in crystals.
Treatment.—Stomach pump, emetics, apomorphine subcutaneously; then chloral and the bromide of potassium. Chloroform may be inhaled. Paraldehyde is said to be a specific antidote.
LOLIUM TEMULENTUM
The seeds of Lolium temulentum, or common darnel, are poisonous. Cases of poisoning have occurred from these seeds being accidentally ground with wheat or rye, and then made into bread.
Symptoms.—Gastric irritation, nausea, and vomiting followed by giddiness, deafness, loss of vision, and, in some cases, delirium. Not infrequently the symptoms resemble those produced by ergot. No death has been recorded as resulting from the use of these seeds. Three ounces of paste made from darnel flour, given to a dog, did not cause death.
POISONOUS FUNGI
Accidental poisoning by mushrooms is by no means rare. The Agaricus campestris, and a few others, are edible; but it is a fact worthy of notice that the poisonous properties of mushrooms are modified by climate and the seasons of the year at which they are collected. Idiosyncrasy may have something to do with the injurious effects produced on some persons by the fungi.
The Agaricus campestris, or common mushroom of this country, is sometimes poisonous; and in some countries—Italy and Hungary—it is usually avoided. In Russia and in France certain fungi are eaten which are regarded as poisonous by us.
Bentley gives, in his Botany, the following table, by which edible and poisonous mushrooms may be known: