260 GRAZING CATTLE POISONS 



years old being generally immune) through the irritation 

 produced in the stomach and bowels due to their consumption 

 of immature acorns as food. After a storm of wind the cattle 

 should be moved to pasture away from oak trees, and the 

 fallen acorns collected (for the use of pigs during winter) 

 before the animals can be safely returned. Pigs eat only the 

 kernel and reject the husky covering. No effective remedy 

 has yet been discovered, but it is usual to give oil and 

 stimulants, with the tinctures of gentian and nux vomica 

 in i-oz. doses, to promote the peristaltic action of the bowels 

 in cases of constipation, and to support the strength with 

 gruel. Leaflet 13 of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries 

 says : 



" The true acorn disease (which appears generally after a 

 long dry and hot summer), is distinguished by progressive 

 wasting, entire loss of appetite, diarrhoea, discharge of an 

 excessive quantity of pale urine, sore places inside the mouth, 

 discharges from the nostrils, and also from the eyes, which 

 are always sunken, giving to the animal a peculiar haggard 

 expression. No fever is present from first to last, but, on 

 the contra'ry, the temperature is commonly below the normal 

 standard." 



Meadow saffron, ColcJiicum autumnale, found growing 

 wild in rank wet pastures and meadows, produces a reddish 

 purple flower in autumn after the leaves have died down. 

 The bulb is the most poisonous part, but the leaves and 

 stems in hay have proved fatal to horses. " Animals that 

 have eaten any part of the plant show intestinal pain, loss 

 of appetite, flatulence, and blood-stained diarrhoea ; some- 

 times they are delirious, sometimes comatose. Treatment 

 is the same as that used for acorns, or demulcent drinks, as 

 wheat-flour gruel, preceded by a purgative." 



Yew tree leaves at certain periods of the year are deadly 

 poison to cattle and horses. But in moderate quantity yew 

 is not always poisonous. 



" Horses are much more susceptible to the effects of yew 

 than cattle. The first intimation that a horse has eaten yew 

 is usually to find it dead ; cattle, on the other hand, may at 

 certain seasons eat quantities of yew without any marked 

 injurious effects, or they may show the following symptoms 

 great tympanitis, rapid breathing, green and foetid diarrhoea, 

 and dullness followed by death. Treatment. Use the trochar 



