Jan. 1917 Poisonous Properties of Milk Vetch. 65 



Extract No. 7. Volume, 5 oz. 



Solution "A" given to full-grown rabbit at I p. m. Died 

 at ,6 p. m. Solution "B" given to rabbit at i 130 p. m. No 

 indications of poisoning. 

 Extract No. 8. Volume, 2 oz. 



Given internally to full-grown rabbit at n a. m. At I 



p. m. the usual symptoms were observed, such as non- 



co-ordinated movements and loss of control. Rabbit died 



at 4 p. m. 

 Extract No. 9. Volume, 2 oz. 



Given internally to full-grown rabbit at n a. m. No 

 symptoms indicated. 



Conclusions. 



1. The data so far obtained indicate that a definite active 

 poison is present. 



2. In no case did a rabbit live when given freshly pre- 

 pared extracts. 



3. Although the old ewe showed no effects from a dose 

 of extractive material equivalent to fifteen pounds of the green 

 plant, yet it is not safe to presume from this experiment that 

 the vetch is not poisonous to sheep, for (i) only one sheep 

 was tested and (2) green plants may produce an effect dif- 

 ferent from that of the extract of the dried ones. 



4. On account of the ease with which a dog can empty 

 its stomach by vomiting when irritants are given, we have 

 concluded that in our experiment with the dog not enough of 

 the poison was absorbed to manifest itself. 



FUTURE WORK. 



Having studied the general nature of the active poison, 

 our next step will be to conduct feeding experiments, typifying 

 range conditions as far as possible, and to study the problem 

 of milk vetch poisoning from the point of view of symptoms 

 and specific antidotes. 



