96 Veterinary Medicine. 



especialh' with grain and seeds that are rich in albuminoids 

 deserve the first mention. The various leguminous seeds, peas, 

 beans, tares, vetches, and the ripened leguminous fodders, clover, 

 alfalfa, and sainfoin, are especially to be incriminated. These 

 are usually most dangerous when in the stage of advanced 

 ripening and yet not fully matured, evidently indicating the 

 development of narcotic poison at this stage. Such poisons are 

 found habitually in certain species, like the chick vetch fvicia 

 cicera) which produces paralysis when fed to the extent of more 

 than one-twelfth part of the ration. This danger is not, how- 

 ever, confined to the leguminosae ; an over abundant ration of 

 cottonseed meal has a similar effect, and indeed this rich ali- 

 mentary product has been practically discarded from pig feeding, 

 and largely as the main constituent from the ration of dairy 

 cows. Gluten meal, another product rich in proteids, is attended 

 by similar dangers. But it is not alone the seeds that are rich in 

 nitrogen that are to be dreaded, forced feeding even on the car- 

 bonaceous maize induces disorder of the digestion and brain, 

 especially in dairy cows. Buckwheat, also, and indeed all the 

 heating carbonaceous grains tend to similar disorders, and are 

 especially injurious in internal ophthalmia (recurring ophthal- 

 mia) which is so closely related to brain congestion. With 

 sound judgment and in well balanced rations, all such agents can 

 be fed to advantage ; it is only when fed exclusively or to excess 

 as the heavy ration that they are to be feared. 



Narcotics. Next must be noted those alimentary matters 

 which are hurtful by reason of narcotic constituents. At the 

 head of this list may be placed the lolium temulentum or intoxi- 

 cating ryegrass. lyike the vicia sativa or cicera, the seeds of -this 

 are always poisonous, hence its significant name. Then the 

 other ryegrasses, perennial and annual (Italian), though per- 

 fectly safe in ordinary circumstances, develop at the period of 

 ripening a narcotic principle, which produces cerebral congestion 

 or inflammation in whole stables of horses at a time. The lolium 

 temulentum is poisonous to man and animals alike. Baillet and 

 Filhol obtained from the seeds an etherial extract containing a 

 bland oil to the amount of two-fifths and a yellow extract to the 

 extent of three-fifths. The amount of this extract derived from 

 three ounces of the seeds often developed the most violent 



