24 BULLETIN 69^ U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



bridging over the period of convulsions, and doubtless a purgative 

 would help in carrying off the effects of the poison. Most cases, 

 however, are hopeless, and to reduce the losses attention should be 

 paid to the obvious methods of prevention rather than to any remedies. 



SUMMARY. 



(1) The poisonous properties of Cicuta have been recognized since 

 the middle of the seventeenth century, and a large number of cases 

 of poisoning of men and animals have been reported. 



The toxic principle has been separated and its properties deter- 

 mined. This toxic principle is probably common to all species and 

 there is reason to think that all species are equally poisonous. 



(2) There is a definite train of symptoms, marked by nausea, pain, 

 and violent convulsions, which makes it easy to diagnose cases of 

 Cicuta poisoning. 



The prominent lesions, as foiuid in autopsies, are congestion of the 

 lungs, kidneys, and central nervous system, with inflammation of the 

 ahmentary canal. 



(3) So far as laiown, all the higher animals are poisoned by Cicuta. 



(4) The quantity necessary to poison is very variable, depending 

 probably on the stage of growth. The plant is very poisonous at all 

 times. . • 



(5) The toxic principle is largely confined to the rootstock. The 

 tops under ordinary circumstances are not poisonous, and neither the 

 tops nor the seeds when found in hay are a source of danger. 



(6) The best remedy is an emetic. Very little can be done for 

 poisoned live stock. 



LITERATURE CITED. 



The following bibliography includes only the titles of articles 

 cited in this paper. A full bibliography of Cicuta has been prepared 

 and is filed for reference in the Office of Poisonous Plants. 



BiGELOw, Jacob. 



1817. American Medical Botany, v. 1, Boston, p. 125-132, pi. 12. 



Blankinship, J. W. 



1903. The loco and some other poisonous plants in Montana. Montana Agricul- 

 tural Experiment Station, Bulletin 45, p. 89-91, fig. 3. 



Boehm, R. 



1876. Ueber den giftigen Bestandtheil des Wasserschierlings {Cicuta virosa) 

 luid seine Wirkungen; cin Beitrag zur Kenntniss der Krampfgifte. 

 Archiv fur Experim en telle Pathologie imd Pharmakologie, Bd. 5, Heft 

 4/5, p. 279-310. 

 Brandt, J. F., Phoebus, Philipp, and Ratzeburg, J. T. C. 



1838. Abbildung und Besclireibung der in Deutschland Wild Wachsenden und 

 in Garten ira Freien Ausdauernden Giftgewachse nach Natiirlichen 

 Familien Erlautert, Abt. 1, Berlin, p. 109-111, pi. 29. 



