vi] Equisetdcede, Filices 87 



arvense Pammel says it produces paralysis of the rear extremities, and 

 when death occurs spasms are noted. In relation to the poisoning of 

 horses by the same species in hay Rich and Jones note unthriftiness, 

 the animal appearing thin and the muscles wasted. In from two to 

 five weeks, according to the age of the horse and the manner of feeding, 

 the animal begins to lose control of the muscles, and there is swaying 

 and staggering, though the eye is bright and the appetite good. If the 

 plant is regularly ingested the horse loses the power of standing, becomes 

 nervous, struggles to rise, the legs become more or less rigid, and at 

 times all the muscles of the body seem convulsed. Even in this condi- 

 tion one well-nursed patient lived two weeks. The horses are generally 

 wilhng to eat, although unable to rise, but become sore and tired from 

 struggling, finally dying from exhaustion. Life is much prolonged by 

 turning from side to side three or four times in twenty-four hours, thus 

 preventing congestion. The pulse is slow till near the end, when it 

 is rapid and weak ; the temperature is below normal at first, but when 

 the animal is down there is fever; the extremities are usually cold; 

 and the lining membrane of the mouth, nose, and eye becomes pale. 



Of Equisetum sp. Stebler and Schroeter say that they induce diarrhoea 

 in cattle, which become poor, and in cows the milk yield is checked or 

 ceases. Weber also refers to the effect on milk yield of E. palustre, 

 which he says causes the milk of affected cows to become watery, poor 

 in fat, and gives rise to a greasy, unappetising butter, while the yield 

 may soon quite fail. 



REFERENCES. 

 2, 20, 57, 111, 176, 203, 204, 213, 220, 221, 222, 237, 260, 261. 



FILICES. 



Bracken {Pteris aquilina L.). The Bracken, Brake Fern, or "Fern" 

 is of very considerable importance to farmers for four reasons: (1) It 

 is a most pernicious weed; (2) it forms an excellent litter for stock 

 and treads down into good manure ; (3) it is said to have been success- 

 fully converted into silage; but (4) it has been accused of poisoning 

 cattle. 



In regard to possible poisonous properties, it must be said that the 

 facts are at present somewhat uncertain, but a number of authorities 

 clearly regard the Bracken as poisonous, (a) Miiller (1897) records the 

 poisoning of horses which ate it for some weeks with chaff — and some 



