Poisoning 419 



turned to pasture, or when there is any violent or sudden 

 change of food, they should be well fed and watered 

 before the change is made. They should not be turned 

 on pastures until the grasses are well started, so that 

 they can get sufficient food without eating weeds or 

 other plants that usually start early and that may be 

 injurious. Animals that are in poor condition are more 

 liable to die from eating poisonous weeds than those in 

 good flesh. 



Among the common plants that are poisonous under 

 certain conditions, are cockle -burs {Xantliium) . These 

 are poisonous when they are first starting in the spring, 

 and have but two leaves. Severe losses among both 

 hogs and cattle are caused throughout the middle west 

 from eating this weed. The leaves of the wild cherry 

 (Prunus serotina) , especially w^hen wilted, are also 

 poisonous. Tansy is poisonous, although animals will 

 seldom eat it unless starved to it; so are the roots 

 and young sprouts of the wild parsnip, or cow -bane, 

 jimpson weed, yarrow, laurel, buckeye, nightshade, lark- 

 spur, sumac, poison ivy, and black nightshade; also, 

 some fungi commonly known as toadstools. These 

 fungi include the "fly amanita " and "death-cup." 



The symptoms of poisoning usually begin within 

 twenty -four to forty -eight hours after the animals are 

 turned on the pasture where the poisonous plants grow. 

 The symptoms vary with the condition of the animal 

 and the amount of the poisonous plants eaten. In 

 general, the symptoms may be divided into two groups: 

 (1) The first are marked by an irritation of the stomach 

 and bowels. These are discharge of saliva in pigs, 



