84 STOCK-POISONING PLANTS OF MONTANA, 



had already been absorbed out of the stomach, and could therefore not 

 be affected by permanganate of potassium in the stomach. 



Two sheep were given morphine hj^podermically in quarter-grain 

 doses at intervals of five minutes. No decided effects of the morphine 

 were observed until after the third dose, when the sheep became grad- 

 ually calmer. After receiving five doses both sheep la}^ down in a 

 pflrtly stupefied condition, from which they did not arouse for several 

 hours. These sheep ultimately recovered from the poisoning, although 

 its effects were noticeable for four or five days. 



Expea^iinent 5. — An experiment was tried with chloral hydrate as 

 an antidote for poisoning b}" water hemlock. One sheep was given 

 one-half ounce of chloral h^-drate in three equal doses at intervals of 

 ten minutes. The effect of this substance was not so immediate as 

 was that of morphine, but seemed to be otherwise ver}^ similar. The 

 sheep finall}^ passed into a stupor similar to that produced by mor- 

 phine, from which it emerged after about two hours. The sheep did 

 not manifest any further violent sj^mptoms as the result of the pois- 

 oning, but it did not recover its appetite, and, after drooping about 

 for three days, finally died. It would seem that in this case the violent 

 effects of the poison were not counteracted quickly enough to enable 

 the animal to make a final recovery. 



Expei'iment 6. — In one case where four cows were poisoned with 

 water hemlock one of the number was seen when the first symptoms 

 of poisoning began to be shown. The stomach was at once opened at 

 the point where the ordinarj^ operation of paunching is performed and 

 the stomach contents were removed. A large enema of lukewarm 

 water was then given, followed by a drench of melted lard. No direct 

 antidotes were given in this case. The animal, however, did not exhibit 

 the most violent sj^mptoms of the poisoning and made a complete re- 

 cover}^ after two days without an}^ further care. The three other 

 cows died before any treatment could be given. In one other case of 

 poisoning from water hemlock a cow was given two 1-ounce doses of 

 chloral hydrate fifteen minutes apart with ver}' satisfactory results. 



SYMPTOMS OP POISONING. 



The symptoms of poisoning from this plant were most closely studied 

 in sheep. The animals manifested signs of severe pain very quickly 

 after the appearance of the first sj^'mptoms. In sheep the first sign of 

 poisoning was usually an attempt on the part of the sheep to run awaj^ 

 from the band or to run in any direction in which it happened to get 

 started. There were also manifestations of great cerebral frenz}', 

 accompanied by involuntary muscular movements which resembled 

 to some extent the movements of animals when suti'ering from colic. 

 The respiration was labored and somewhat irregular, the pulse was 

 wiry and intermittent. It is, however, a difficult matter in most cases 



