S54i On the salivary Defiuxions of Horses. 



calories. The euphorbia maculata possesses its greatest 

 acrimony when in flower, or alittle before: and at that time 

 the salivation has been observed to be most prevalent. 

 Most plants when thoroughly dried in the sun lose much 

 of their virtue. This is also the case with the euphor- 

 bia maculata, for this reason hay, containing it, tho- 

 roughly dried in the sun, will not be near so produc- 

 tive of salivation, as when it has been slowly dried in 

 cloudy weather. This circumstance I think worth at- 

 tending to, in gathering hay containing it. Horses and 

 hogs are the only animals, that I have observed, to be 

 subject to the salivation. Why it does not affect the ru- 

 minating animals, I have not been able to ascertain. 

 Probably future observation may enable me, or some 

 one else, to account for it. At present I shall not haz- 

 ard a conjecture.* 



From the foregoing observations I think it extremely 

 probable, that the plant in question is the general cause 

 of the salivation in horses. There are other plants be- 

 sides the euphorbia, that will act as masticatories: but I 

 believe that there are but very few of them flourishing 

 in our fields, that are liable to be eaten by the grami- 

 nivorous animals. I am perfectly satisfied that the 

 euphorbia maculata will produce it ; and I have always 

 observed it to abound in the fields where ptyalism 

 was prevalent. 



* Several members of the Society have remarked, cattle 

 sheep and swine as well as horses, to be affected by the sc* 

 cond crop of clover, and of other grasses. 



