84 Crraminese, Equisetacex [CH. 
Darnel poisoning induces giddiness, drowsiness, uncertain gait, and 
stupefaction (Miiller), and, in the older animals, vomiting, convulsions, 
loss of sensation and death (Pott). 
The symptoms in the horse are dilatation of pupils, vertigo, uncertain 
gait, and trembling. The animal falls, the body is cold and the extremi- 
ties are stiff, respiration is laboured, the pulse is slow and small, and there 
are convulsive movements of the head and limbs. There is rapid en- 
feeblement, and death may occur within thirty hours. 
In pigs, foaming, convulsions and paralysis have been observed; 
the stomach and intestines were inflamed and the lungs congested. 
REFERENCES. 
4, 16, 73, 81, 106, 128, 130, 141, 190, 203, 204, 
205, 213, 233, 235, 254. 
EQUISETACEJE. 
Horsetails (Equisetum sp.). A very great deal has been written 
on the subject of Equisetosis or Equisetum poisoning, and even 
at the present day opinion is divided as to which species are 
poisonous and to what extent. From the time of Linnaeus there has 
been uncertainty as to the species, which has generally been given as 
E. arvense. Two German papers, by Weber and Lohmann respectively, 
published by the German Agricultural Society in 1903 and 1904, have 
done much to remove doubt on the matter, but cannot be said to have 
settled the question absolutely. These two papers seem to have been 
overlooked by some recent writers on the subject, but Lohmann's 
appears to be the most authoritative paper yet written. Both are 
referred to below. 
It seems to be definitely proved that certain species of Equisetum 
really are poisonous, hesitating statements notwithstanding. Chesnut 
and Wilcox state that there are cases of poisoning of both horses and 
sheep by E. arvense in the United States, though they are not common, 
and the opinion is expressed that "the plant, if deleterious, is evidently 
so only on account of its harsh scouring action in the mouth and intes- 
tinal tract." On the other hand Rich and Jones record poisoning of 
horses by E. arvense in hay, but while adding that horses seem to develop 
a depraved appetite for the weed, they state that they have no evidence 
that horses grazing upon the green plant are poisoned. Giissow's 
experience has been that cattle do not suffer any inconvenience at all 
