Used in the early days by New England farmers to destroy birds in the
cornfields (Osgood). Taken internally it reduces the fullness and
frequency of the pulse, and if the dose be large excites nausea,
vomiting and purging with great prostration. In the horse I have found
anorexia, irritability of the bowels, and frequent retching. The action
is primarily on the heart and nervous system and incidentally as an
irritant on the gastro-intestinal mucosa. _Treatment_ consists in
evacuation of the stomach and the free use of mucilaginous drinks and
diffusible stimulants. Helleborus Niger, viridus and fœtidus have
analogous effects.