106 



CAUSES AND PREVENTION OF DISEASE. 



Description. — This is a rather attractive shrub, from four to 

 eight feet high ; occasionally growing very much higher, with 

 thick, shiny leaves and rather showy pink flowers. The flowers 

 appear in May or June; the plant prefers the rough hillsides, and 

 mountain slopes of the eastern states. The poisonous principle 

 is in all portions of the plant excepting perhaps the wood. It is 

 said to be very intensely poisonous. Horses are poisoned experi- 

 mentally, but the main losses reported seem to be from cattle 

 and sheep. 



FIG. 40. POISONOUS PLANTS. 

 Poison Hemlock. Water Hemlock. 



(CHESTNUT.) 



Oregon Water Hemlock. 



Symptoms. — A mild, persistent vomiting, with flow of sa- 

 liva, irregular breathing, impaired sight, dizziness, with diffi- 

 culty in controlling the limbs. Irregular respiration is especially 

 characteristic. Later there may come on a marked drowsiness, 

 passing into complete unconsciousness and death. 



Treatment. — Internal use of a one per cent alkaline solu- 

 tion of permanganate of potash has been suggested by V. K. 

 Chestnut of the Department of Agriculture. (See "General 

 Treatment.") 



The broad leaf laurel may be taken as a type of the fam- 

 ily, to which it belongs. There are also the narrow leaf laurel 

 and the great laurel, which arc reported as occasioning fatal poi- 

 soning. 



