64 Polygonacex [OH. 
by veterinary surgeons of poisoning horses and sheep, some sheep even 
dying. Pammel states that the Curled Dock (R. crispus L.) induces 
nausea, watery brown faeces, copious urination, dry spasmodic cough, 
and perspiration ; but no record of the death of animals has been found. 
In regard to R. Acetosella it is stated that in the horse a condition 
may be produced resembling drunkenness, with vacillating gait, saliva- 
tion, muscular tremors, dilatation of pupils, relaxation of sphincters, 
and a feeble, slow, and intermittent pulse : then convulsive contraction 
of lips, retraction of the eyeball, accelerated and stertorous breathing, 
extreme dilatation of the nostrils, tetanic contraction of the muscles of 
the neck, back, and limbs, abundant sweating and falling. In bad cases 
after a period of extreme exhaustion, these symptoms are repeated, and 
death occurs in convulsions (Cornevin). 
The acid oxalates seem especially harmful to sheep, causing loss of 
appetite, exhaustion, small and scarcely perceptible pulse, rapid breath- 
ing, and constipation, and in many cases severe diarrhoea, uncertain gait, 
and sometimes death (Miiller). 
The milk of affected cows is with difficulty made into butter (Pott). 
REFERENCES. 
73, 141, 190, 203, 233. 
Polygonum sp. Several species of Polygonum are said to have 
poisonous properties. The chief among them is Buckwheat (P. Fago- 
pyrum), the grain of which is widely grown as a food for both man and 
live stock. This plant, particularly the flowers, has given rise to a 
well-known rash in man, cattle, sheep, and pigs, with congestion and 
tumefaction especially of the head and ears. There is also nervous 
disturbance, with agitation and hallucination sheep, for example, 
may butt against objects. The affection of the nervous centres may 
lead to fatal results, which have followed in cattle, sheep, and pigs. 
Little is known of this so-called Fagopyrism, but after analytical and 
spectroscopical researches on the colouring matter of the tegument Kurt 
concluded that it is due to the chlorophyll. 
Persicaria (P. Persicaria L.) and Water-pepper (P. hydropiper L.) 
are also stated to be harmful, though the former has been considered 
a nutritious plant and has been given to horses and cattle as a green 
food. 
Both species, however, are said to cause a rash, and to contain 
injurious narcotic substances. Persicaria is stated by Miiller to have 
caused inflammation of the bladder and the digestive tract in pigs, and 
