ZYGADENUS, OR DEATH CAMAS. 43 



greater than that given to No. 264 and to No. 293, which recovered. 

 If we exclude No. 277, it would appear clear that sodium carbonate 

 given in sufficiently frequent doses is distinctly beneficial. The Zyga- 

 denus in the case of No. 277 was given in three doses, and it is pos- 

 sible that there was some accumulative effect, which may explain in 

 part the slow recovery. 



The general conclusion from the experiments with sodium bicar- 

 bonate is that if the remedy is given at frequent intervals it will prove 

 distinctly beneficial. The dose should be 4 grams, and this should 

 be repeated as often as every 30 minutes. 



These experiments with repeated doses of tannic acid and sodium 

 bicarbonate were interesting from a theoretical standpoint and indi- 

 cate a line of treatment which can be used successfully with valuable 

 animals. It is evident, however, that remedies used in this way can 

 not be recommended for the ordinary band of sheep, for the expense 

 of the treatment would be greater than the value of the animals. 



No experiments of repeated doses were made with potassium per- 

 manganate; but it is probable that it could be used successfully, 

 although the general trend of the experimental work is to indicate 

 that the potassium permanganate is not, as a remedy, so efficient as 

 tannic acid and sodium bicarbonate. 



BLEEDING. 



It is customary among sheep herders to bleed sheep poisoned by 

 Zygadenus, the favorite place being the angular artery and vein of 

 the eye. Although there seems to be no logical reason for this prac- 

 tice, it seemed wise to try it, and three sheep were treated in this 

 way; two of the three died, and no beneficial result appeared in any 

 of the cases. 



METHODS OF PREVENTING LOSSES. 



The most obvious thing to do is, of course, to keep the animals 

 from eating the plant. With this end in view, it is important that 

 all herders should be taught to recognize Zygadenus. When the 

 plant is in flower this is not at all difficult, but it has been a matter of 

 surprise to find to what extent, among the herders and sheep owners, 

 the plant is not known, even at this stage. Before flowering, its 

 grasslike leaves are not so easily recognized, but there is no reason 

 why a fairly intelligent man should not be taught to know it even then. 

 If one knows the plant in the preflowering and flowering stages, he 

 will readily recognize it in the later dried-up condition, when, it will 

 be remembered, it is fully as dangerous as earlier in the season. 



When the plant is recognized care should be. taken that the sheep 

 do not have an opportunity to eat any large quantity of it. If 

 it be necessary to drive the sheep over a patch of Zygadenus, the 

 herder should take the precaution to have the band well fed before 



