Rhamnus frangula (buckthorn, black alder, black dogwood, frangula bark). A member of the plant family RHAMNACEAE. Deciduous shrub or small tree with smooth yellow bark, large feather-veined leaves and inconspicuous green flowers. The fruits are drupes, green when unripe, becoming red then black when fully ripe. The berries contain two or three angular seeds.

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Animals most affected
Cattle (sheep, goats, horses).

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Etiology
Direct ingestion of the plant, notably of the bark and leaves.

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Toxicity
Contains the purgative glycosides emodin (or trioxymethylanthraquinone) and franguloside, mainly in the berries, leaves and bark. Toxic doses not known.

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Clinical features

• violent diarrhoea with colic, abdominal pain and cramps; faecal matter often blood-stained, indicative of haemorrhagia;
• total prostration, moderate fever;
• possibility of death within several hours.

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Lesions

• pronounced gastroenteritis.

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Treatment
No antidote. Symptomatic care only:

• activated vegetable charcoal;
• gastrointestinal demulcents;
• atropine 0.05A).1 mg/kg (25% iv; 75% sc);
• treat for shock.