608 DISEASES OF CATTLE, SHEEP, GOATS, ETC. 



Conclusive evidence against the plant was obtained only in one local- 

 ity, and this among calves in the Flathead Valley. The symptoms of 

 poisoning in these two cases were similar to those already outlined 

 for poisoning by the tall larkspur in cattle, with the exception of a 

 slight bloating observed in the calves. Respiration and pulse were 

 very rapid, the body temperature was slightly lowered, and a profuse 

 sweating was observed. Death occurred about four hours after the 

 appearance of the first symptoms. In general, the symptoms of 

 poisoning from purple larkspur closely resemble those produced by 

 tall larkspur, and are distinguished from those of death camas by the 

 absence of any regurgitation, which is characteristic of death camas 

 poisoning, and by the presence of violent spasms, which are usually 

 absent in poisoning from death camas. 



In treating animals poisoned by this plant it is recommended 

 that the same remedies be applied which were suggested in poison- 

 ing by the tall larkspur. In the writer's previous experience with this 

 plant, atropine was found to be effective in counteracting the depres- 

 sant action of the larkspur. 



Western Water Hemlock (Cicuta occidentalis) . This species 

 is a smooth perennial, 2 to 5 feet high, with 3 to 10 elongated fleshy 

 roots clustered at the base of an ascending axis 3 to 5 inches long, 

 with twice decompound leaves and narrow serrate leaflets 2 or 3 

 inches in length, and flat-topped clusters with greenish white flowers. 

 This plant is commonly known in Montana as wild parsnip, although 

 a number of other plants have also received the same name in the 

 State. It is generally distributed along the banks of streams, irriga- 

 tion ditches, and marshy localities in the vicinity of ponds. The 

 common name wild parsnip has apparently given rise to a mistaken 

 notion that this plant is identical with the common parsnip of the 

 garden, having established itself outside of cultivation. The two 

 plants should be readily distinguished, the flowers of the garden 

 parnsip being yellow, while those of water hemlock are white; the 

 latter is also a much slenderer and less leafy plant than the former. 



During the season of 1900 conclusive evidence was obtained that 

 36 cattle were poisoned from eating this plant, and of these 30 died. 

 About 105 sheep were poisoned by it during the same year, 80 of 

 which died. The mortality was, therefore, quite high, being 76 per 

 cent for sheep and 87 per cent with cattle. The roots of this plant 

 are occasionally eaten by man, usually with fatal results. During 

 the season of 1900, in Montana, there were 5 cases of poisoning of 

 human beings from eating this plant, resulting in 4 deaths. 



The water hemlock, as already indicated, grows in wet places, 

 and, except where grasses have formed a tough sod, the roots may be 

 easily pulled up by the stem. It was not determined to what extent 

 the roots are eaten by stock when pulled up in connection with the 

 stein. In the case of sheep poisoning it was observed that the roots 

 had been eaten and they were found in the stomach of the sheep. 

 In other cases an examination of the place where the poisoning had 

 occurred showed that some of the plants had been pulled with 

 the roots attached and the latter left lying on the ground or that the 



