286 COMMON WEEDS 



action did not appear to be poisonous. The authors 

 even concluded that Corn Cockle may be regarded as 

 a harmless and valuable food for growing pigs, and 

 refuse containing it is extensively used in Hungary for 

 fattening pigs. 



In 1893 a number of pigs died in Germany when 

 fed on coarsely ground rye tailings containing 6 per 

 cent of Cockle, symptoms of acute poisoning being 

 observed. Forty work-horses, however, were un- 

 injured when given 3^ Ib. of similar tailings. 1 In 

 another case five cows were supposed to have been 

 poisoned by Cockle ; 2 and in still another to exert a 

 poisonous action on pigs (I9O4-5). 3 Experiments con- 

 ducted in 1903-4 showed that Corn Cockle exerted a 

 more favourable than unfavourable influence on the 

 total yield of milk of cows, but a very unfavourable 

 influence on the quality of butter. 4 About the same 

 time 4 experiments with cows, sheep, pigs, and goats 

 indicated that in the amounts usually found in feed- 

 ing stuffs, Corn Cockle has no poisonous influence on 

 domestic animals. 



About 1892 Nevinny concluded 5 that 6 grams of 

 Cockle seed consumed in 1200 grams of bread were 

 beyond doubt poisonous in effect, and that the sale 

 of grain or flour containing it should be forbidden. 

 Robert also thought that the sale of feeding stuffs con- 

 taining the seeds of Corn Cockle should be prohibited 

 by law. 6 Pesch, who made an extensive study of the 

 question, concluded 7 as follows : " Under certain con- 

 ditions Corn Cockle is injurious to domestic animals. 

 The amount of the poisonous substance in the seed 

 is variable, depending probably upon the season and 



1 Exp. Sta. Rec., vol. v. p. 813. z Ibid., vol. xii. p. 394. 



3 Ibid., vol. xvi. p. 103. 4 Ibid., vol. xv. p. 1001. 



5 Ibid., vol. iv. p. 90. 6 Ibid., vol. iv. p. 92. 



7 Ibid., vol. iv. p. 310, 



