POISONS AND POISONING. 66 



DEATH CAMAS (SPECIES OF ZYGADENUS). 



The death-camas plants, which are commonly known in the Pacific 

 States as " lobelia," are especially destructive of sheep, but cattle 

 sometimes eat them and are poisoned. Cases of cattle poisoning are 

 not likely to result fatally. 



Symptoms. — The symptoms are salivation, nausea accompanied by 

 vomiting, great weakness, and lowered temperature. 



Treatment. — There is no effective treatment for death-camas 

 poisoning. 



FLY POISON (CHROSPERMA MUSC^TORIUM). 



This plant, which is closely related to the death-camas plants, is 

 sometimes known as " stagger grass " and causes a considerable loss 

 in the Southern States. It grows earlier than the grasses, and on this 

 account is more likely to be eaten. Like death camas, it produces 

 pronounced nausea, resulting in vomiting and weakness, and in cases 

 which recover the effects may continue for several days. Appar- 

 ently the injurious effects are more common in the case of cattle than 

 in other domestic animals. There is no known way of treating these 

 animals, though doubtless purgatives would be beneficial. 



YEW (TAXUS BACCATA). 



The European yew has long been known as a very poisonous plant. 

 It is cultivated in America, and while cases of poisoning have not 

 been common, it is well to recognLze its dangerous character. A 

 comparatively small dose is poisonous and ordinarily acts with great 

 rapidity. It causes respiratory paralysis and the animal dies in 

 convulsions. 



LAUREL. 



The laurels, including the broad-leafed laurel, Kahnia latifolia., 

 the narrow-leafed laurel, Kalmia angustifolia., the rhododendrons, 

 and other closely related plants are poisonous and cause considerable 

 losses. It is dangerous to let cattle graze where these plants are 

 abundant at times when other forage is scarce. The symptoms are 

 salivation, nausea and vomiting, spasms, dizziness, stupor, and death. 



The common brake or bracken fern, Pteris aquilhia, has been con- 

 sidered responsible for the poisoning of many horses and cattle. 

 Many cases have been reported in England and Germany, and some 

 well-authenticated cases in the United States. Very little has been 

 learned experimentally of fern poisoning, but there seems to be little 

 question that it has been the cause of many deaths. The symptoms 

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