263 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



2 GEORGE V., A. 1912 



PLANTS, POISONOUS, SUSPECTED, OR OTHERWISE INJURIOUS 



TO LIVE-STOCK. 



A number of wild plants o< curring in this country possess acrid, narc< tic, or other- 

 wise injurious juices, and have, in some instances, caused the death of animals that 

 have eaten them. Erom time to time, specimens of plants are submitted for examination 

 which have been directly poisonous or at least injurious to the health of stock. While 

 the discriminating powers of adult animals are very pronounced, yet it is by no means 

 rare for young animals to cat plants or portions thereof which may cause great trouble 

 to their digestive organs followed in some cases by death. Among the well-known 

 poisonous plants are the Larkspurs (Delphinium spp.) Monkshood (Aconitum spp.), 

 Cowbane or Water Hemlock, (Cicuta spp.), and Poison Hemlock, (Conhim maculatum 

 L.), all of which are genuinely poisonous. Other plants like Buttercups, Spurges, etc., 

 though hardly 'poisonous,' contain irritant juices, which have frequently caused 

 injury. In order to put on record any poisonous or otherwise injurious plant, the 

 co-operation of Dr. J. G. Rutherford, Veterinary Director General, has been sought, 

 who has very courteously issued the following circular letter to his inspectors, to 

 veterinary surgeons, and to others interested. 



Ottawa, March 8, 1911. 



So;, — Mr. H. T. Giissow, Dominion Botanist, is desirous of investigating all 

 reported cases of plant-poisoning among live stock in Canada, and has asked me to 

 co-operate with him in this work. I would therefore call your attention to the accom- 

 panying note which he has prepared on this subject, and would ask you to be good 

 enough, when possible, to follow the instructions therein set forth in the event of any 

 case of plant poisoning in animals occurring under your observation. 



I have the honour to be, sir, 



Your obedient servant, 



J. G. RUTHERFORD, 



Veterinary Director General. 



INSTRUCTIONS. 



In consideration of the fact that from time to time there have been reported cases 

 of injuries to all kinds of live stock, supposedly due to the poisonous principle in cer- 

 tain plants, it has been thought necessary to call the attention of all inspectors under 

 the Health of Animals Branch, and any persons who maybe sufficiently interested in the 

 subject to report any such case of injuries or death of animals, supposedly due to such 

 causes, to the Veterinary Director General and Live Stock Commissioner, Ottawa. 



Any such report of ascertained or suspected injury to live stock by plants to be 

 accompanied (stating the age of the dead animals), by as full a description of the 

 symptoms of the animal's or animals' sufferings (loss of appetite, foaming at the 

 mouth or nose, constipation, looseness of the bowels, distended stomach, mus- 

 cular contractions, rolling, etc., etc.) as possible. Whenever possible, the stomach 

 of the poisoned animals should be sent, that an examination may be made of 

 the contents of the stomach for the presence of any plant or remains thereof likely to 

 have caused the injury. Such specimens should be submitted under strict observation 

 of the following regulations: The stomach should be removed immediately after the 

 animal's death. It should not be emptied of its contents, but where severed from the 

 intestines or other parts it should be securely fastened with a siring. The specimens 

 may be packed in ice and shipped in a strong box. By mixing a quantity of finely 

 chopped ice with sawdust a good packing will thus be obtained. In the case of rumi- 

 nants, the rumen only is needed for examination. 



