POISONS. 199 



past. It is infected with a fungus, and whether 

 this contains the toxic ingredients or the plant 

 itself is poisonous, has not yet been determined. 



It is a medium-sized plant, blossoming about the 

 first of May, and grows less poisonous with age, 

 being entirely inactive when withered. 



The poison is very fatal to sheep, from ninety 

 to one hundred per cent of the affected animals 

 dying in spite of all treatment. 



Symptoms: From one to several hours after 

 eating the plant, depending on the fullness of the 

 first stomach, the animal begins to grow weak; 

 labored breathing is noticed; then bloating, with 

 frequent urinating. Later, a diarrhea sets in, the 

 eyes become dilated, and the animal dies in from 

 several hours to three or four days. 



Treatment: No successful line of treatment has 

 yet been worked out. Stimulants, such as one- 

 half ounce aromatic spirits of ammonia in a cup 

 of warm water; dram doses of oil of peppermint 

 in a half -pint raw linseed oil; dram doses of lauda- 

 num in oil, have all been tried with varying suc- 

 cess. 



The best line of treatment is prevention, and 

 avoiding aster patches when the sheep are hun- 

 gry, especially in the early spring. 



13. Sneeze Weed. 



Botanical name Helenium montanum. 



This belongs to the sunflower family, growing 

 from one to three feet high. It has long, lance- 

 shaped leaves, with bright yellow flowers. 



