168 



FARMER'S CYCLOPEDIA OF LIVE STOCK 



condition by keeping in cultivated pas- 

 tures or in the stable on a well balanced 

 ration. 



Death camas (Zyadenus venenosus) is 

 a low perennial with an onion like bulb 

 and narrow leaves separating in such a 

 manner as to give rise to the name "crow 

 foot," which it bears in some localities. 

 It produces a cluster of yellowish green 

 flowers about the first of May. The 

 plant is distributed from California to 

 South Dakota. The symptoms of poi- 

 soning are irregularity in the movements 

 of the animal, accompanied by fast 

 breathing and spasms. In the later 

 stages of poisoning in sheep there is a 

 complete paralysis of the muscles and the 

 animal lies upon its side in a sort of 

 stupor. Sometimes the stomach contents 

 are regurgitated through the mouth and 

 nostrils. 



Larkspurs are widely distributed over 

 the country and a number of species, 

 especially in the western states, have 

 been shown to be poisonous. In Mon- 

 tana the common poisonous species are 

 Delphinium bicolor and D. glaucum; 

 while in Colorado these two and three 

 other species have recently been shown 



flowers of considerable beauty. The 

 larkspurs are especially poisonous in 

 their younger stages. The symptoms 

 are stiffness, irregularity in the gait at 

 first and later violent spasms interrupted 

 by periods of quiet. 



Water hemlock—Several species of 

 this plant are known to be exceedingly 



Fig. 123 TALL LARKSPUR 



by Glover to be poisonous. These plants 

 grow from 6 inches to 7 feet in height 

 and carry a spike of pale or dark bine 



WYOMING WATER HEMLOCK 



poisonous to man and animals, the most 

 common poisonous species being Cicuta 

 vagans, C. maculata and C. occidentalis. 

 These plants are smooth perennials with 

 stems 2 to 6 feet high and com- 

 pound leaves which arise from the 

 ground and flat topped clusters of white 

 flowers. The first symptoms of poison- 

 ing are severe pain and frenzied move- 

 ments of the animal. Affected animals 

 die in spasms sometimes within 15 min- 

 utes after the first symptoms appear. 



Aconite is a common wild species at 

 high altitudes throughout the Rocky 

 mountains. In some localities it oc- 

 curs in such quantities about small 

 streams and watering places as to be a 

 source of danger to both cattle and 

 sheep. It requires only small quantities 

 to cause serious results, especially if 

 eaten in the younger stages. 



