12 BULLETIN 69, U, S. DEPAETMENT OF AGEICULTUKE. 



On the morning of September 9 the uneaten material was removed and at noon he 

 was given 4 pounds of fresh-ground Cicuta roots with a hah pound of cut hay. 



At 5.55 p. m. he was found down on his left side, kicking convulsively and unable 

 to rise. "When raised to his feet, however, he walked to the side of the corral. Res- 

 piration was 28 and rather deep. He was fairly sti'ong and able to run about the 

 corral rather actively, so it was difficult to take his pulse. From the time he was 

 found down and helped up he showed no marked symptoms except weakness and 

 uncertain movements of his head. He appeared abnormally excitable, starting at 

 tlie slightest sound or movement, sometimes giving a sudden start without apparent 

 cause. At 6.55 p. m. he was found down again. He was lying on his belly and unable 

 to rise. His temperature was 102.5°; pulse, 128. At 6.56 he had a convulsion with 

 opisthotonos, followed by violent kicking of the fore and hind legs, rolling over on 

 his side. At 6.58 he managed to rise; his pulse was 132; his head moved about in a 

 spasmodic way, resembling hiccoughs, and suggested spasmodic contractions of the 

 diaplnragm. At 7 he was standing with his legs braced apart, unable to walk. His 

 pulse was 172. At 7.06 he fell down again and went into a violent convulsion, more 

 severe than the preceding. His head was drawn up, with his chin against the breast, 

 apparently held by a violent muscular contraction. He then rolled over upon his side 

 with the head tlu*own back. This was followed by violent movements of his legs 

 and head. Then he lay upon his belly, his legs doubled under him and the hind legs 

 extended. His breathing was labored and the hiccoughing or spasmodic jerking of 

 the sides and head continued. At 7.09 he was still on his belly and unable to rise. 

 His pulse was 180. He was raised to his feet. When his shoulders were raised he feU 

 again, but when his hind quarters were raised he managed to get up, or, in other words, 

 apparently he was especially weak in his hind legs, but was able to use his fore legs. 

 At 7.20 he was able to walk a" little when urged. At 8 he-was still on his feet and able 

 to walk about, but weak in his hind legs. His pulse was 140 and rather strong. He 

 passed a large quantity of urine. He occasionally belched gas and ground his teeth. 

 The hiccoughing had practically stopped. 



From this time on there were no noticeable symptoms, and on the morning of Sep- 

 tember 10 he was turned back with the band in the pasture. He weighed at the time 

 86 pounds, showing that during the feeding he had lost 5 pounds. All told, he had 

 eaten 45 pounds of roots. It is to be noted, however, that the feeding was continued 

 over quite a long period and that the poisoning may be considered to have resulted 

 from a comparatively small amount eaten within a short time. 



Case No. 125. 



Case No. 125 (a wether) was brought in for Cicuta feeding on August 24. This sheep 

 weighed 100 pounds at 6 p. m. on August 25. Feeding was commenced at 10 a. m. on 

 August 26, when it was given leaves, stems, and seeds of Cicuta. This feeding was 

 continued during August 26 and 27. Because of lack of material none was fed on 

 August 28 and 29, but the feeding was resumed on August 30. Because of lack of 

 material no more was fed on August 31 and September 1, but the feeding was resumed 

 on September 2 and continued to September 12. 



The animal ate with fair readiness the fresh young leaves and succulent stems, but 

 objected to the dried material, and it was rather difficult to make it clean up the stems 

 and the seed tops. Up to August 30 fresh plants were fed, the seeds being rather green. 

 From September 2 to 6 the material was dry and was eaten less readily. From Sep- 

 tember 7 to 11 the material was fresher, but the seed tops were past maturity. It is 

 estimated that in the course of the feeding the animal ate 91 pounds. The plant pro- 

 duced no toxic effect and the sheep was turned out on September 12, apparently in 

 good condition. It weighed at this time 94 pounds, having lost 6 pounds in the course 

 of the experiment. 



