POISONS. 209 



found among the foothills of the summer ranges 

 have been condemned by sheep men as poisonous. 

 These are the scutellaria or skullcap, and a form 

 of wild pea, with small white flowers. Poisoning 

 from these usually occurs in the early spring, and 

 perhaps they are only harmful when ingested in 

 large quantities by a hungry animal. 



In the eastern part of the United States, poke- 

 root, corn cockle, horse nettle, jimson weed, horse 

 chestnut and the castor bean have all caused oc- 

 casional deaths among sheep. It is not common, 

 however, and the animal is dead before discov- 

 ered, as a rule. The treatment for these cases, 

 if they are discovered in time, consists of large 

 doses of tannic acid dissolved in water. 



In the central states, especially in the river 

 valleys, wild or blue pea has caused some fatal- 

 ities. It may be said, with safety, that almost 

 every vicinity, even neighborhood, where sheep 

 are kept, has its peculiar poisonous plants. 



In all cases, however, the treatment is nearly 

 the same. Large doses of some form of alcohol, 

 tannic acid, or potassium permanganate may be 

 given. 



C. ANIMAL POISONS. 



Sheep are practically immune to this class of 

 poison, as under this head are found snake bites, 

 insect stings, caterpillars and grubs taken in the 

 food, and cantharides or Spanish fly. 



As the sheep is such a dainty eater it is not 

 troubled by ingesting animal poisons, and the 

 others have no deleterious effect on the sheep. 



