CKOT.\LAF<IA BL KKEAXA. 275- 



lamziekte g-enerally results in death, while animals usually recover 

 from styfziektc. 



MacOwan pointed out that \ arious forms of this neuritis occur 

 in dift'erent countries, but that their correlation does not admit of 

 doubt. The symptoms show small differences such as are to be 

 expected when the species and genera of the plants eaten are not 

 exactly the same. 



Cruttthirict stii:itfalis L. ("rattle-box''). 



In the Eastern and Central United States this plant is knowjs.. 

 to be poisonous to stock, producing- a disease called " crotalism," 

 or " Missouri bottom disease," because of the prevalence of the 

 plant along- the Missouri ri\er bottoms of Western Iowa. The 

 plant is poisonous, not only g-reen, but also in dried hay. 



Poisonous principle. — An unnamed alkaloid has been isolated^ 

 from the seeds by Dr. Power, but Chesnut states that the poisonous 

 principle is unknown, and that it occurs both in the leaves and 

 the seeds. Horses and sometimes cattle are killed by eating- g-rass 

 or meadow hay in which the plant is mixed, but they are not 

 poisoned so often by eating- the plant in the field. Dr. Stalker, of 

 Iowa, in 1884, while investig-ating- the cause of bottom disease," 

 then prevalent among- horses in Iowa, was led to believe that it was 

 mostly, if not altogether, due to this plant. Extracts were pre- 

 pared W'hich, when fed to young horses, produced analog^ous symp- 

 toms and death. The pronounced symptoms from a moderate 

 dose were g-reat stupor and loud, heavy breathing,. A largfer dose 

 caused death in one and one-half hours. Small doses repeated- 

 daily induced the characteristic stupor on the fifth dav. and death 

 on the thirteenth (3). 



Symptoms. — .'\s g-enerally described from accidental cases, the 

 symptoms are much more prolonged, death resulting- only after 

 several weeks or months. There is a g-eneral decline of vigour, 

 and a gradual loss of flesh, as observed in the case of loco, with 

 which this plant is closely related. The rattle-box does not, how- 

 ever, appear so often to produce the craziness characteristic of 

 loco. 



Antidote. — Xo antidote has been suggested, but Dr. Stalker 

 states that, provided the animals are given a proper and nutri- 

 tious diet, they will be greatly benefitted by daily doses of 2 ounces 

 of Epsom salts, with 2 drachms of sulphate of iron and i drachm 

 of nux vomica. 



Eradication. — Chesnut recommends burning the veld at the 

 time of the seeding of the Crotalaria, which — -he claims — will 

 materially reduce the percentage in the veld hay cut the following 

 season (3). 



CrolaJaria alata Hamilt. , 



A native of India; is suspected of being poisonous to stock in 

 Queensland. 



Crotalaria MitchcJIii Benth. ('' VEi.i.ow dari.ixg pea-"). 



A native of South Australia, New South Wales, and Queens- 

 land : is supposed to produce the same eft'ccts on cattle as Swain- 

 sona (10). 



