33 



III Ihe SijriiiM of l'J18 tlic following tests were made. 



Pig No. 343, weight 18 pounds, was given twice daily in 

 peanut meal and bran one and one half ounces of ground 

 green (spring) buckeye leaves, flowers and young stems. Ex- 

 cretions, temperature and general condition of this pig re- 

 mained normal. Blood counts were also normal. 



Pigs Nos. 314 and 345 were given every afternoon for four 

 (hi.\s an armful of young tender green buckeye. They ate 

 a small amount of it. In the morning they were fed peanut 

 meal and bran. Temperature remained normal: appetite good 

 with no signs of diarrhoea or constipation. Blood counts 

 remained normal. (These tests were made by senior veteri- 

 nary medical students A. R. Gissendanner and B. W. Murray 

 under my direction.) Tests will be made on hogs and cattle 

 during 1919. 



(2) In 1917 tests were made to determine the physiologi- 

 cal or toxic action of Helenium tenuifolium on horses and 

 dogs. 



The results shown (after giving large quantities of the 

 plant to horses) were that it produced distinct drowsiness, 

 slow and weak pulse, slow and deep breathing; slight con- 

 traction of the pupil; subnormal temperature; always laxative 

 and sometimes purgative action of the intestines. 



On the dog similar action with some nausea and irration 

 of the stomch. 



In 1918, an active principle was extracted from the plant 

 with ether, alcohol and hot water, which produced on horses, 

 cattle and dogs subnormal temperature, slow pulse, slow res- 

 pirations; laxative action and sometimes diarrhoea. Etherial 

 solutions, made from alcoholic extracts, were tested for anti- 

 pyiine, acetanilid and cafTein — and all wore negative. Alka- 

 line etherial solutions were tested for brucine, strychnine, 

 veratrine and cocaine with negative results. Inhalations from 

 floating dust, while grinding dry plants, produced violent 

 sneezing and headache. From these tests and clinical obser- 

 vation of horses and cattle that graze in pastures where this 

 plant grows profusely it appears that there are instances or 

 occasions when horses and mules and cattle eat sutlicien' 

 to produce a type of forage poisoning that not infrequently 



