Plant Description:

1. Coarse shrub or small tree with reddish colored bark on the branches and having white flecks (pale markings) showing.

2. Leaves are dark green, shiny on upper surface, lighter on underside; alternate, simple, obovate, finely toothed

3. Flowers in axillary racemes, white in color, 5 petals to each flower

4. Fruit is globose (berry)- green in spring, ripening to dark red-purple; contains a single stone

Toxic Principle:

1. Plants contain cyanide bound to sugars. Cyanide is cleaved from sugar during frosting, wilting, or mechanical damage. Cyanide causes severe respiratory problems because it blocks the ability of the body tissues to utilize oxygen.

Disease:

1. Toxic to all classes of livestock

2. Onset time can be within a few minutes to 1-2 hours

3. Severe respiratory distress occurs very quickly

      a) rapid, difficult breathing

      b) excitement due to lack of oxygen in tissues

      c) rapid, weak pulse

      d) weakness, prostration, coma

Treatment:

1. Give sodium nitrite and sodium thiosulfate