14 BULLETIN 69, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGEICULTURE. 



inflammation 2 or 3 inches across. The lower part of the small intestine was deeply 

 inflamed. The general condition of the circulatory system would indicate that the 

 animal died from respiratory failure. The section of the kidney prepared for micro- 

 scopic examination showed very great congestion, especially in the cortical portion, 

 where portions of the convoluted tubules appeared somewhat degenerated. The 

 blood vessels and some of the spaces outside the veins were filled with red corpuscles. 



Case No. 121. 



Case No. 121 was a yearling, weighing about 300 pounds. He was brought in for 

 feeding with Cicuta on the evening of September 8. Feeding was commenced at 

 9.15 a. m. on September 9, when he received 2\ pounds of whole roots. At noon it 

 was noticed that he was not eating readily. The material had been mixed with cut 

 hay and he had eaten a few of the roots. He was somewhat salivated at this time. 

 Feeding was repeated at 6 p. m. On September 10 he was fed at 10.30 a. m., and 

 at 6 p. m. he was frothing somewhat at the mouth. At this time a large portion of 

 his food had not been eaten. On September 11 he was fed more hay, in order to 

 induce him to clear up the Cicuta) and additional Cicuta was ground and mixed with 

 moist cut hay to induce more complete feeding. This feeding was at 10.15 a. m. At 

 12 noon he was found salivated, breathing with a peculiar contraction of the narea 

 and elevation of the corners of the mouth. 



While the station force was at supper a sound was heard of an animal apparently in 

 distress. This animal was found down on its side, but immediately got up. This 

 was about 7.50 p. m. He walked about uneasily, jerking his head more or less as 

 though having hiccoughs. His pulse was 50 and full. Suddenly he commenced to 

 back, jamming himself first against one side of the corral and then against another, 

 his muscles contracting violently. He went into a fit and fell, the head going down 

 first. He kicked violently and frothed at the mouth. The violent kicking gradually 

 subsided. At 8.05 his pulse was 112 and the breathing was labored and noisy. At 

 8.08 his pulse was 73 and his respiration 36. At 8.15 the breathing was quieter, the 

 respiration 32. 



A little before this he raised himself and lay on his belly with his fore legs doubled 

 under him. Immediately afterwards his eyes were turned in, he struggled convul- 

 sively, turned himself about, and fell upon his side, but raised himself again upon his 

 belly. At 8.20 he raised himself again, coming back upon his belly. At 8.22 he had 

 another spasm, going through the same motions. At 8.25 he went into a violent fit. 

 There was marked opisthotonos. He kicked violently, his legs stiffened, standing 

 out rigidly from the body. He frothed at the mouth and was in a strong perspiration. 



At 8.30 his pulse was 142. The fit continued, its violence, however, varying. At 

 8.45 he was given hypodermically a quarter of a grain of strychnin. This was admin- 

 istered in the midst of a fit and he died almost immediately, before the strychnin 

 could have had any effect. Death was caused apparently by respiratory failure, as 

 the action of the heart continued an appreciable time after respiration ceased. 



An autopsy was held on September 12. The right auricle was much congested and 

 full of blood. The inner wall of the right ventricle was deeply congested. This 

 ventricle contained little blood and was partly contracted. The left auricle and 

 ventricle contained little blood and were not congested. The wall of the first stomach 

 at the pyloric end was deeply inflamed, as was the wall of the second stomach. On 

 the wall of the fourth stomach were a few inflamed spots. Through the length of the 

 small intestine there were small spots of congestion, while the lower part of the ileum 

 was deeply inflamed. The rectum was somewhat inflamed. The kidneys were con- 

 gested. The brain was congested, as well as the membranes of the spinal cord. Micro- 

 scopical section of the kidney showed great congestion, especially in the cortical 

 portion. Portions of the walls of tli9,t\^ules were degenerated. A great many of the 

 blood corpuscles were broken and stftijied only very lightly, while through the whole 



