268 TRANSACTIONS AND PEOCEEDINGS OF THE [Sess. Lxrv. 



information he thinks it possible that sheep suffering from 

 louping-ill may infect other land to which they are removed, 

 but the infection is only of a temporary nature, as after a 

 lapse of time sheep put on to such land do not suffer. 



This information is very interesting, and naturally suggests 

 some form of poisoning : and as A. 2^oHfoIia is the only 

 poisonous plant we know of upon the land in question, 

 attention is at once drawn to it. 



Louping-ill is a mysterious disease, which has been 

 attributed to ayot, and also several other forms of vegeta- 

 tion: but it is quite possible it is only the symptoms caused 

 in sheep or cattle by certain forms of poisoning, of which 

 andromedotoxin may be one. 



As to the infection of grass fields by sheep that have 

 been removed to them suffering from louping-ill, it is 

 possible it may be discovered that a bacillus in the sheep 

 absorbs the poison, and, passing out of the animal with its 

 evacuations, finds its way to the grass, on which it 

 remains for a time, until it either dies or gets rid of the 

 poison. If other sheep are put on to the pasture before the 

 bacilli become innoxious, they may be poisoned, and in all 

 probability have the symptoms of louping-ill. Further 

 investigation will be necessary before any definite con- 

 clusion can be formed as to this, but those in a position to 

 experiment should soon be able to settle the question, 



I may conclude by remarking that A. i^olifolia is found 

 growing most abundantly on Hat, peaty mosses, where there 

 is poor drainage. On sloping ground, it grows sparsely. 

 It is generally found growing along with heather, and often 

 among sphagnum. Where peat has been recently dug, or 

 where peat only forms a thin covering to the ^o\\, A. jjolifolia 

 does not appear to grow naturally; yet it may be trans])]anted 

 into a garden and grow well, especially if the situation is 

 damp; if the situation be dry, it may live, but does not 

 seem to thrive, and the foliage of the plant becomes darker. 

 At least that has been my experience. 



The plant buds generally twice each season, and as tlie 

 budding time appears to be tlie period during which the 

 plant is most poisonous, slieep, cattle, and horses should be 

 kept off the ground on wliidi it grows during April, May, 

 and tlie greater jKirt of -In no. During -^uly aiul the first 



