vi] Equisetaceae, Filices 87 
arvense Pammel says it produces paralysis of the rear extremities, and 
when death occurs spasms are noted. In relation to the poisoning of 
horses by the same species in hay Rich and Jones note unthriftiness, 
the animal appearing thin and the muscles wasted. In from two to 
five weeks, according to the age of the horse and the manner of feeding, 
the animal begins to lose control of the muscles, and there is swaying 
and staggering, though the eye is bright and the appetite good. If the 
plant is regularly ingested the horse loses the power of standing, becomes 
nervous, struggles to rise, the legs become more or less rigid, and at 
times all the muscles of the body seem convulsed. Even in this condi- 
tion one well-nursed patient lived two weeks. The horses are generally 
willing to eat, although unable to rise, but become sore and tired from 
struggling, finally dying from exhaustion. Life is much prolonged by 
turning from side to side three or four times in twenty-four hours, thus 
preventing congestion. The pulse is slow till near the end, when it 
is rapid and weak ; the temperature is below normal at first, but when 
the animal is down there is fever; the extremities are usually cold; 
and the lining membrane of the mouth, nose, and eye becomes pale. 
Of Equisetum sp. Stebler and Schroeter say that they induce diarrhoea 
in cattle, which become poor, and in cows the milk yield is checked or 
ceases. Weber also refers to the effect on milk yield of E. palustre, 
which he says causes the milk of affected cows to become watery, poor 
in fat, and gives rise to a greasy, unappetising butter, while the yield 
may soon quite fail. 
REFERENCES. 
2, 20, 57, 111, 176, 203, 204, 213, 220, 221, 222, 237, 260, 261. 
FILICES. 
Bracken (Pteris aquilina L.). The Bracken, Brake Fern, or "Fern" 
is of very considerable importance to farmers for four reasons: (1) It 
is a most pernicious weed; (2) it forms an excellent litter for stock 
and treads down into good manure ; (3) it is said to have been success- 
fully converted into silage; but (4) it has been accused of poisoning 
cattle. 
In regard to possible poisonous properties, it must be said that the 
facts are at present somewhat uncertain, but a number of authorities 
clearly regard the Bracken as poisonous, (a) Miiller (1897) records the 
poisoning of horses which ate it for some weeks with chaff and some 
