CLOVERS AND LEGUMES 51 



The formation of feed balls has been observed following the ingestion 

 of wilted clover. Overfeeding with dry, woody clover, sow beans, field 

 vetches or field peas may also be followed by serious consequences, espe- 

 cially when animals have not been accustomed to them. Red clover and 

 alfalfa or lucerne, in the order named, are considered most dangerous in 

 this respect and have the additional objection that they occasionally cause 

 eczematous eruptions on the inside of the thighs in horses. Dammann 

 states that vetches fed to horses in large quantity may cause wheezing 

 and hard breathing (heaves) and paralysis of the muscles of the trunk. 

 Again, melilot is rich in coumarin before blossom and should not be fed 

 to sheep in quantities exceeding one-half normal rations, and not exceed- 

 ing one-third normal ration for other animals. Hybrid clover, fed to 

 horses, has been known to produce partial necrosis of the buccal mucous 

 membrane, the conjunctiva, the white areas of the skin of the head and 

 feet, and in less frequent cases hemorrhagic enteritis and colic. When 

 fed in conjunction with lupines it has caused icterus, stupor, tottering 

 gait, bloody urine, necrosis of small areas of the mucous membrane of 

 the tongue, and death. The rate of mortahty may reach 50 per cent. 

 Cattle remain unaffected even where hybrid clover produced serious ill- 

 ness in horses. The inflammatory disturbances following the ingestion of 

 hybrid clover were formerly believed to be due to parasitic infection of 

 the food in question, as in case of alfalfa exanthema. More recently the 

 cause is looked for in the photodynamic substances contained in these 

 plants. It is possible also that these feeding exanthemata are anaphylactic 

 phenomena, caused by the absorption of undigested albumen. This leads 

 at first to sensitization (the formation of proteolytic antibodies) and 

 after repeated ingestion is followed by anaphylaxis (feeding exanthema). 



Recently Grammlich has reported mass affections following clover- 

 feeding (so-called clover disease). During the summer season 69 horses 

 became affected, of which 31 died. The disease made its appearance 

 following pasturing on rank-growing meadows (red and white clover) 

 as well as after soiling with green clover, and could be reproduced ex- 

 perimentally. The symptoms were inflammation of the light-colored 

 areas of the skin of the head and feet, exhaustion, swaying walk, symp- 

 toms of depression or raving, icterus, vesicles and ulcers of the mucous 

 membrane of the mouth and, in severe cases, accelerated pulse, constipa- 

 tion and death. Postmortem examination revealed icterus, spotted in- 

 flammatory areas in the mucous membranes of the stomach and intes- 

 tines, especially the large intestine, parenchymatous inflammation of the 

 heart and liver, cloudy swelling of the kidneys, sometimes cystitis. The 

 treatment consisted in withdrawal of the objectional feed, rest, saline 

 purgatives, oatmeal soup, and symptomatic treatment. Hay made from 

 these forage plants seems to be harmless. 



To prevent the unpleasant tympanitic action of clover and alfalfa 

 they may be mixed with grass (Italian rye grass) or better, with aro- 

 matic herbs (yarrow, caraway or gum succory). Where tympanitis is of 



