228 POISONING. 



the Indians. In Oregon it is erroneously called "lobelia" by most 

 stockmen and farmers. Horses, cattle, and sheep, as well as man, 

 are poisoned by eating the bulb. 



Zygadenus elegans. — The bulbs, and perhaps the leaves, of the 

 Glaucous zygadoms, or alkali grass, are poisonous to cattle. 



CONVALLARIACE^ (LILY OF THE VALLEY FAMILY). 



Convallaria majalis. — All parts of the lily of the valley are power- 

 fully poisonous, and are liable to injure cattle and horses. 



H^MODORACEiE (BLOODWORT FAMILY). 



Gyrotheca capitata. — This is the red root, or paint root, of the 

 Atlantic coast and Cuba, so called on account of the red colour of its 

 sap. White hogs are supposed, throughout the Southern United States, 

 to be particularly subject to the poison contained in the plant. 



FAGACE^ (beech FAMILY). 



Quercus sp. — In Europe the acorns of various species of oak cause 

 sickness and death in hogs and cattle. This effect may possibly be due 

 to tympanites, but may also be due in some way to the tannin or the 

 bitter principle which they contain. 



POISONJNG BY ACORNS. 



The acorn, or fruit of the oak {Quercus rohur and Quercus sessili- 

 flora), is much valued as a food for swine. **A peck of acorns a day 

 with a little bran wall make a hog, 'tis said, increase a pound weight 

 2^er diem for two months together." Though largely consumed by swine 

 with no apparent ill effects, acorns constitute a dangerous food for young 

 cattle, especially when eaten before they are ripe and when herbage or 

 other feeding is scanty or restricted. 



The symptoms comprise dalness, loss of appetite, constipation, 

 followed by diarrhoea, with straining and colicky pains, head carried 

 low, eyes retracted, with mucus about the eyelids and blood-stained 

 discharge from the nose. Frequently the abdomen is distended. 

 Temperature normal. 



The lesions are, abrasions of the buccal membrane on the palate, 

 cheeks, etc. ; impaction and intense congestion of the omasum. 



Treatment. Change of pasture. Alkalies — potash or soda bicar 

 bonate, magnesia ; tonics and stimulants. 



