WYOMING WATER HEMLOCK. 83 



was then placed in the cage, and after fortj^-five minutes 12^ grams in 

 all had been eaten. The rabbit ate the first portion quite readil}^ but 

 it had practically refused to eat more of the Cicuta, even when coaxed, 

 at the end of a half hour. It was then decidedl}^ uneas}^, and its respi- 

 ration was unusually rapid. Ten minutes later it had voided a consid- 

 erable amount of urine, which relieved it from most of its symptoms, 

 but five minutes later still its temperature was 102. 4'-^, that of a cheek 

 being- 100.8° F. A little irregularity of breathing was noted three and 

 one-half hours after the beginning of the experiment, but the next day 

 the rabbit seemed perfect!}" normal. 



Exjjerlment 2. — In the preceding experiment all of the aerial portion 

 of the plant was used. In this the thick, whitish basal portions of the 

 leaves, which were thought to be more poisonous on account of their 

 more oily appearance and their pungent taste, were discarded. Fifty 

 grams were offered to a 1-pound rabbit. The amount which had been 

 eaten five hours afterwards was 12 grams or more, as was ascertained 

 by weighing the uneaten part and making proper allowance for the 

 evaporation of water, which was determined by weighing a check 

 amount of equal weight that had been exposed to practicall}^ the same 

 conditions. No effect whatever was produced. 



•Experiinent S.—Ow June 9 50 grams of the fresh tops of the non- 

 flowering plants (1 to li feet high), exclusive of the white basal por- 

 tions, was eaten b}- a rabbit weighing about \\ pounds without causing 

 any marked sjnnptoms. 



These experiments do not afford sufficient data upon which to base 

 any very definite conclusions, but it seems certain that the ])asal portion 

 of the leaves of young phmts is more toxic than the green f oliaceous 

 part, and it may be safel}" assumed that the leaves of the older plants 

 are likewise less toxic. When the stems are older, they are not so 

 tempting to stock in Montana, because at that time there is an abun- 

 dance of wholesome fodder, and it may be that the mere failure of stock 

 to eat the stems in that stage has given rise to the idea that the tops 

 of the older plants are not poisonous. It is more than likely that the 

 older stems, containing as much oil as the}^ do, are poisonous, but to 

 a much less degree than the root, which is responsil)le for a large per- 

 centage of the cases of water-hemlock poisoning which occur in the 

 State. 



Experiment If.. — The remedies which were tried in cases of poisoning 

 by this plant include morphine and chloral hydrate, combined in a 

 few instances with emptying the stomach by means of rumenotomj'' 

 (paunching), and the use of cathartics. Potassium permanganate was 

 not tried in an}' of these cases for the reason that the violent physio- 

 logical effects of the poison were already sharply pronounced when 

 the animals were seen. It was thereby evident that most of the poison 



