HORSETAIL FAMILY. 29 



Diarrhoea and rapid loss of flesh are first observed, fol- 

 lowed by muscular incoordination. The animal sways 

 and staggers, finally becoming unable to stand. The tem- 

 perature is at first sub-normal, but after the animal falls 

 its struggles produce a fever. The appetite usually re- 

 mains good throughout, but weakness increases and 

 death may follow from exhaustion due to the continued 

 struggles to rise. The circulation is poor, as shown by 

 coldness of the extremities and paleness of the delicate 

 membranes of the mouth, nostrils and eyes. The disease 

 can be distinguished from bracken poisoning which it 

 somewhat resembles, by the constipation and redness of 

 the eyes that accompany the latter. (See p. 33.) 



The treatment is as follows. Remove all hay contain- 

 ing Horsetail and administer a purge. Rich and Jones 

 recommend a pill of one ounce Barbados 

 aloes, one or two drachms of ginger and 

 enough soft soap to bind the powder together. If these 

 are not available, a quart of linseed oil may be used as 

 a substitute. A teaspoonful of nux vomica added to the 

 grain ration three times daily helps to relieve the mus- 

 cular trouble. It is important to avoid exciting the ani- 

 mal, and to keep him on his feet. If he seems likely to 

 fall he should be supported in slings arranged to press 

 very lightly on the abdomen when he is standing but to 

 give support as soon as the least bending of the legs takes 

 place. 



The Field Horsetail thrives best in fairly light sandy 

 soil, wet, or at least moist for a considerable part of the 

 season. Other species live partially submerged 

 The Plant jn ponds Qr s t rea ms. There is a perennial root- 

 stock a horizontal stem running beneath the surface of 

 the ground. This rootstock is jointed and branched, the 



