71 



H. C. Long states that in sheep the abdomen is tucked up, the animal 

 has a dazed appearance, there is dilation of pupils, unsteady gait, the hind 

 limbs being dragged, coldness, and death after a few convulsive movements. 



In the pig there is prostration and inability to move, coldness, slow 

 breathing, livid mucous membranes, imperceptible pulse, paralysis, parti- 

 cularly of the posterior members, and no convulsions. 



REMEDY AND MEANS OF CONTROL: In the event of poisoning, profes- 

 sional advice must be promptly summoned. While waiting for assistance 

 the system should be relieved of the poison as soon as possible by use of 

 an emetic. Stimulants may then be given, and warmth applied to the 

 extremities. This weed should not be allowed to stand on any farm or 

 roadside. It should be grubbed out and promptly destroyed. In no case 

 should it be allowed to go to seed. 



WATER HEMLOCK (Cicuta maculata L.) CARROT FAMILY. 



PLATE XXVII. 



COMMON NAMES: Other significant names given to this plant are 

 beaver-poison, spotted cowbane, musquash-root, snakeweed, and chil- 

 dren's-bane. 



DESCRIPTION: The water hemlock is a tall perennial herb from three 

 to six feet in height. The stem is stout and streaked with purple. The 

 leaves are compound, but not so finely divided as in the poison hemlock 

 (cf. illustrations). The leaflets are saw-toothed. The small white flowers 

 are arranged in a compound umbel with no bracts at the base of the main 

 umbel. There are slender bracts at the base of each lesser umbel or 

 umbellet. The fruit is oval, with no groove on the inner face of the seed. 

 The roots are several, fleshy, in the form of oblong tubers clustered at the 

 base of the stem. If the base of the stem is cut lengthwise, a number of 

 transverse partitions will be seen in greater or less contiguity according to the 

 time of year and growth. The plant is in bloom from June to August. 



DISTRIBUTION: Water hemlock, unlike poison hemlock, is found in 

 wet places, in swamps, low ground, and along streams. Native of Canada, 

 it is common from New Brunswick to British Columbia. 



POISONOUS PROPERTIES: Of all the poisonous plants in Canada, the 

 water hemlocks are the most deadly and act most rapidly. All species 

 of cicuta are exceedingly poisonous both to human beings and animals. 

 Although there is some difference of opinion as to the amount of toxicity 

 in the upper portion of the plant, yet all agree the roots and swollen base 

 of the stem are the most virulent. They are usually eaten by animals 

 early in the season, when they offer an abundant green fodder. As they 

 grow on wet, soft land, the roots are easily pulled up by stock when eating 

 the herbage. The toxic principles are the alkaloid cicutine, with oil of cicuta 

 and cicutoxine, a bitter resinous substance. 



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