338 November 1748. 



they either die, or do not recover eafily. I 

 can remember, that in the autumn of the 

 year 1748, fome calves eat of the leaves, 

 but fell very lick, fwelled, foamed at the 

 mouth, and could hardly ftand, however 

 they were cured by giving them gunpowder 

 and other medicines : the fheep are moll 

 expofed to be tempted by thefe leaves in 

 winter -, for after having been kept in flables, 

 for fome months they are greedy of all 

 greens efpecially if the fnow flill lies upon 

 the fields, and therefore the green but 

 poifonous leaves of the Kalmia, are to them 

 very tempting. Horfes, oxen and cows 

 which have eaten them, have likewife been 

 very ill after the meal, and though none of 

 them ever died of eating thefe leaves, yet 

 moil people believed, that if they took too 

 great a portion of them, death would cer- 

 tainly be the refult. For it has been ob- 

 ferved that when thefe animals only eat 

 fmall quantities, yet they fuffer great pains. 

 On the other hand the leaves of the Kalmia 

 are the food of Mags, when the fnow covers 

 the ground, and hides all other provilions 

 from them. Therefore, if they be fhot in 

 winter, their bowels are found filled with 

 thefe leaves ; and it is very extraordinary, 

 that if thole bowels are given to dogs, they 

 become quite fiupia and as it were drunk, 



and 



