20 BULLETIN 125, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Following are the details of three cases which may be considered 

 typical : 



Sheep No. 193. — This animal (Table I, section G) was a 2-year-old ewe, lent for 

 experimental purposes by Mr. Ole Birkeland. She was received at the station on 

 May 9, 1913. An attempt was made on May 12 to feed to her the bulbs of Zygadenus 

 venenosus ground and mixed with bran. As she would not eat this, a trial was made on 

 May 13 of feeding her with Zygadenus tops, but these also she refused to eat; so at 1.40 

 p. m. of the same day she was drenched with 200 grams of Z. venenosus bulbs ground 

 fine and suspended in water. At 2.35 p. m. she was frothing at the mouth and vomit- 

 ing, with violent contractions of the diaphragm and abdominal muscles. She was 

 lying down, but was able to stand. At 3.50 p. m. she was still frothing at the mouth, 

 but was fairly strong. At5.30 p. m. her temperature was 101° F. She was fairly strong, 

 but acted as though in much discomfort. On May 14, at 7 a. m. she appeared entirely 

 normal, and at 8.30 she was turned out to pasture. 



On June 14, 1913, she was kept in for feeding, and at 8.15 a. m. she was fed 100 grams 

 of fresh tops of Zygadenus venenosus, which were collected on June 12. At this time 

 the plant was in flower. At 4.40 p. m. she was fed 200 grams of the plant, and at 7.40 

 p. m. 135 grams. 



On June 16, at 7.10 a. m., she was fed 200 grams; at 6.40 p. m., 200 grams; and at 7.15 

 p. m., 250 grams. All the Zygadenus fed on June 16 had been collected on the pre- 

 ceding day. 



On June 17, at 6.45 a. m., all the Zygadenus given on the preceding day had been 

 eaten. The animal appeared bright, but showed sensitiveness to sudden noises and 

 there was some trembling of the surface muscles. At 7 a. m. she was run around the 

 corral. It was found that she moved in a stiff-legged manner and was somewhat weak. 

 The stiffness was most noticeable in the hind legs. She was licking her lips and rub- 

 bing her nose against the fence and moving her head about in a jerky way. At 8.45 

 a. m. the symptoms were about the same as at 7. a. m. At this time she was fed 200 

 grams of Zygadenus. At 11.30 a. m. and 1.50 p. m. she was fed 100 grams of Zygadenus. 

 At 3 p. m. her temperature was 103.8° F. She was more nervous than in the morning 

 and her movements were somewhat more stiff. The jerking movements were more 

 pronounced and continuous. All the Zygadenus which had been previously given 

 had been eaten. ' At 8 p. m. the symptoms as noted at 3 o'clock still continued She 

 was fed a little alfalfa. 



On June 18, at 6.45 a. m., the sheep was trembling almost constantly, with frequent 

 spasmodic movements. Her legs were stiff as she walked about, and there was some 

 lack of control. She was dejected and dull and without appetite. At 9 a. m. she 

 was given 5 grams of tannic acid. At 9.40 she was given 4 ounces of Epsom salts in 

 solution. At 10.30 a. m. she was put in a metabolism cage, in order to collect the 

 excretions. At 2 p. m. she seemed to be decidedly better, and continued in about the 

 same condition throughout the afternoon. 



On June 19, at 6.30 a. m., the animal trembled, but showed no other symptoms. 

 She had not urinated since being placed in the metabolism cage at 10.30 a. m. on the 

 preceding day. At 8 a. m. she was taken out of the cage and fed some alfalfa. The 

 general appearance of the animal was better than on the preceding day, but she was 

 still unsteady in her gait and exhibited trembling of the surface muscles. At 1 p. m. 

 she defecated as the result of the dose of magnesium sulphate given on the preceding 

 day, and this defecation continued in a mild diarrhea. At 3 p. m. she urinated for 

 the first time after being placed in the metabolism cage. At this time her respiration 

 was 148, and she seemed in general to be worse. At 8 p. m. she was given 1 gram of 

 diuretin in solution, and returned to the metabolism cage. During the afternoon the 

 animal seemed to be gradually getting worse. When standing, her hind legs were 



