PLANTS POISONOUS TO STOCK. 



249 



POISONING BY FENNEL. 



This disease, seen in Algeria, and recently studied by Bremond and 

 Bojoly, need only be mentioned. The information at present available 

 is indefinite, and the symptoms so closely resemble those of Texas fever 

 that there seems a possibility of 

 confusion having arisen. 



The lesions are those of hsemor- 

 rhagic gastro-enteritis. 



Treatment consists in giving 

 tannin, opium, and emollients. 



Oxypolis rigidus. — The cowbane 

 is natural in swamps throughout 

 the eastern half of the United 

 States. The leaves and roots are 

 reputed to be poisonous to cattle. 



Slum cicutsefolium. — The leaves 

 of the hemlock water parsnip, which 

 is more or less common throughout 

 the United States, are said to be 

 poisonous to stock. 



ERICAEiE (heath FAMILY). 



Andromeda poll folia. — The 



wild rosemary, or moorwort, is a 

 plant native to the northern regions 

 of Europe, Asia, and America, en- 

 tering the United States only in 

 the extreme north-east. The leaves, 

 which have been eaten by sheep 

 with fatal effect, contain a narcotic poison known as andromedotoxin. 

 The plant is not very dangerous in its native habitat, because it grows 

 in bogs which are inaccessible to stock. 



* Azalea occidentalis. — The California azalea is very much dreaded by 

 sheep men who drive their flocks into the southern Sierras for pasture. 

 Investigation has shown that the leaves contain a poisonous substance. 



* Kalmia angustifolla. — The narrow-leaf laurel is abundant in the 

 north-eastern section of the United States, where it is also w^ell known 

 as sheep laurel and lamb-kill. The leaves contain andromedotoxin, 

 and sheep and calves are frequently poisoned by eating them. 



* Kalmia latifolia. — The broad-leaf laurel is native throughout the 

 greater part of the eastern half of the United States, and is known by 



Fig. 105. — Branch ivy {Leucothoe cates- 

 bcei). a, Flowering branch ; b, fruiting 

 capsules. 



