UMBELLIFERAE — COWBANE 



657 



rick formerly of the Oregon Experiment Station have shown experimentally 

 that this species is poisonous. A bulb was cut in small pieces, mixed with a 

 carrot and fed to a two year old grade heifer. The animal was fed at 8:00 

 a. m. and at 9:30 it was dead. A post-mortem examination showed that pieces 



Fig. 374. Oregon water hemlock {Cicuta 

 vagans) : a, plant with leaves, one-sixth natural 

 size; b and b', rootstock and horizontal roots, 

 showing section, half size; c, terminal leaflets, 

 one-sixth natural size; d, flowering spray. (U. 

 S. Dept. Agr.) 



of the root occurred in the rumen, and in the reticulum or second stomach. 

 Only a very small portion of the root had been eaten by the animal. Two 

 grams were found in the stomach. The lungs were highly congested. 



The following day a one year old calf was fed with the poisonous roots. 

 The temperature of the animal was normal, 1021.4°. Two bulbs the size of an 

 egg were cut and mixed with carrots ; this material was eaten under protest. 

 The roots were fed at 9:15 a. m. and at 9:40 the temperature was 103; at 10:00, 

 103j^°; at 10:25, 104° and the animal was trembling about the flanks, the eyes 

 watered freely; at 10:35 the animal was excited and the temperature was 104J4° ; 

 at 10:45 the animal fell over on its side in a spasm. The eyes were drawn and 

 the muscles were rigid and contracted violently. 



Before death an attempt was made to revive the animal by giving it spirits 

 of turpentine; this caused the calf to recover its feet and walk about. A second 



