Journal of the American Medical Association · 1928 · 16 citations · 0 references
PharmacyClinical ToxicologyToxicologyNutritional ToxicologyPoisoning DiagnosisToxicologic PathologyChemical Contaminants In MilkPlant PoisoningPoisonous PlantsToxic PlantsAnimal Plant PoisoningEthnomedical Poison PlantsPlant Poisoning SyndromesPoisonous Plant ToxicityScientific Facts
Recent toxicological and chemical investigations1of richweed poisoning, supported by a large number of clinical reports of cases of milk sickness, make it possible to state definitely certain facts about this disease. It can no longer be doubted that milk sickness is richweed poisoning and that it is caused by the consumption of milk or milk products obtained from cows that have fed on that plant.2 Richweed, or white snakeroot, known botanically asEupatorium urticaefoliumReich., is one of the composite family. It occurs throughout the eastern United States as far west as Oklahoma and Nebraska. A chemical study of the toxic constituents of this plant has revealed the fact that three poisonous substances are present. Two of these, a volatile oil and a resin acid, do not produce trembles in animals and have no relationship to milk sickness. The third poison is an oily liquid, with the