A poisoning syndrome

Cardiac glycoside poisoning

Digoxin and digitoxin in the foxglove, oleandrin, hellebrin in the hellebores, bufadienolides in the toad, convallatoxin in lily of the valley.

Cardiac glycoside poisoning: how soon does it show?

Hours.

How does it run?

Nausea, a slowed and irregular heart, confusion, and the yellow-green haloes of vision; death by arrhythmia. The glycosides block the sodium pump of the heart cell.

What is done for it?

Digoxin-specific antibody fragments, which bind the drug; atropine for the slowed heart.

Historical and descriptive, not medical advice. In a poisoning, call a poison centre or emergency services.

Which substances in the database cause it?

Black hellebore (Helleborus niger), plate: Black hellebore

Plant Black helleboreElleboro nero The Christmas rose, Helleborus niger; the bark of the root was used.CanaleCaution

PlantFoxgloveDigitalis, “finger-stall” Digitalis purpurea.Deadly

Oxymel, and oxymel of squill, plate: Squill

CompoundOxymel, and oxymel of squillOssimele; ossimele scillitico Honey boiled with vinegar; the squill version adds the bulb of sea squill.Canale

Squill (Drimia maritima), plate: Sea squill

PlantSquillScilla Sea squill, Drimia maritima and its close relatives, large bulbs of the Mediterranean coasts.Canale

AnimalToadBufo The common toad, dried, powdered, or worn.Caution

PlantYewTaxus Taxus baccata.Deadly

Sources

Goldfrank’s Toxicologic Emergencies, 11th ed. (2019), “Cardioactive Steroids.” Standard reference work