150 The Management and Treatment of the Horse, 



alarming symptoms, is of an entirely different nature, 

 being no other than poisoning by the bearded darnel 

 (Lolium temulantum). Doubtless much mischief is 

 caused by this grass to horses, sheep, and cattle — firstly, 

 by an improper quantity after long confinement to other 

 food ; and secondly, by the irritation caused by the rough 

 bristles or styles with which these are armed. The dar- 

 nel grass, however, possesses also narcotic as well as 

 irritant properties, the seeds especially being prolific in 

 their soporific powers. This species of darnel grows 

 wild in many parts of England in fields among wheat 

 and barley, and flowers early in July ; it varies greatly in 

 appearance so as sometimes to be confounded with rye 

 grass, Lolium jperenne, which is a useful and wholesome 

 fodder. Many undoubted cases of injurious consequences 

 following from eating bread in which the seed of the 

 darnel has been ground up with corn are on record. It 

 is stated in the Medical and Surgical Journal that 

 about eighty persons in the poor-house at Shefheli, after 

 breakfasting on oatmeal porridge, in Avhich it appears 

 that the seeds of the darnel had been ground, were 

 seized with the usual symptoms of poisoning; violent 

 agitation of the limbs, convulsive twi tellings, con- 

 fusion of sight, and extreme pains in the forehead, 

 were observed in nearly all those persons. It seems 

 they were relieved with copious draughts of vinegar 

 and ultimately recovered. When a person is supposed 

 to be poisoned by eating darnel the best thing to do is to 

 give an emetic, and afterwards partake freely of acidulated 

 drinks* The signs of poisioning by darnel in the horse 

 are abdominal irritation with occasional diarrhoea, tenesmus, 



