THE PARSLEY FAMILY 117 



Occurrence : In low land along waterways, probably right 

 across the Dominion. 



Injury: Roots intensely poisonous to stock, particularly 

 cattle, which pull them out and eat them freely when grazing 

 in spring. The roots look like small parsnips and, like them, 

 have a strong aromatic odour, which seems to make them attrac- 

 tive to stock. It is claimed that the flowering plants, when cut 

 with hay, may be eaten by animals without any ill effects, but 

 that the seed-bearing plants are dangerous. The whole plant, 

 however, contains some of the poisonous principle, although 

 it is true that this is most abundant in the roots and the seeds. 

 Consequently no hay containing Spotted Cowbane or other 

 Water Hemlocks (also called Water "Parsnips") should be fed. 



This plant and in the West probably two or three allied 

 species closely resembling it, Oregon Water Hemlock (Cicuta 

 vagans Greene), Purple-stemmed Water Hemlock (Cicuta 

 Douglasii C. & R.) and Wyoming Water Hemlock (Cicuta 

 occidentalis Greene) is the cause of many deaths in spring 

 among cattle, and unfortunately, in cases where much of the 

 plant has been eaten, no remedy can be applied. On the plains 

 when mild cases are discovered in time, two or three daily doses 

 of lard or bacon grease are administered, but it is seldom that 

 anything can be done, on account of the intense virulence and 

 quick action of the poison. A piece of the root of Oregon 

 Water Hemlock, about the size of a walnut, is said by Prof 

 Hedrick, to be sufficient to kill a cow in about fifteen minutes. 



Remedy: From the nature of the localities where Water 

 Hemlock grows, hand-pulling is the best treatment for this 

 dangerous weed. This is easily done, particularly if the roots 

 are first loosened with a spud or some other implement. The 

 plants should be carefully piled up to dry and then burnt or other- 

 wise destroyed. The poisonous principle, called cicutoxin, 

 is of a resinous or oily nature and will contaminate water, if, 

 as is sometimes done, the pulled-up plants are thrown into 

 sloughs where they may be trampled upon by stock. It is 



