STOCK-POISONING PLANTS OF THE RANGE. 13 



CICUTA (WATER HEMLOCK). 



The most poisonous of all the plants in the United States is, without 

 any doubt, the Cicuta, which is most commonly known throughout 

 the West as "parsnip"; sometimes as " water hemlock." There are 

 several species of Cicuta recognized by our botanists, but they are 

 very closely allied, and for the purpose of stockmen the description 

 of one will serve for all. Plates XIII and XIV are of the Cicuta, 

 which is common on the Pacific slope. 



Cicuta is an umbelliferous plant growing in swamps and damp 

 valleys and frequently very abundantly along irrigating ditches. A 

 large number of umbelliferous plants occur in these localities, and it 

 is difficult for the nonbotanical person to distinguish Cicuta from other 

 similar nonpoisonous plants. Probably the easiest way to distin- 

 guish the plant is by an examination of the rootstock. The Cicuta 

 grows from a rootstock to which are attached roots which may be 

 small, as shown in Plate XIV, or may take the form of a group of 

 thick, fleshy tubers. In longitudinal section this rootstock shows 

 more or less distinctly a number of transverse chambers, as shown 

 in Plate XIV. By this peculiarity of structure Cicuta can be dis- 

 tinguished from most plants growing in places where it is likely to 

 be found. 



POISONING BY CICUTA. 



It has been commonly thought that the tops of Cicuta when found 

 in hay caused the loss of stock, but experimental work of the 

 department has shown quite conclusively that the tops and seeds 

 never occasion losses. The rootstock, however, is violently poisonous, 

 and a very small quantity of this is sufficient to kill any animal that 

 eats it. Probably all animals are susceptible to the effects of this 

 plant. The losses of domestic animals are mainly of cattle, which 

 either obtain the rootstocks that have been plowed up along irrigat- 

 ing ditches or find them along watercourses in mountain valleys where 

 they have been washed out by the high water. 



SYMPTOMS, TREATMENT, AND LOSSES. 



The symptoms of Cicuta poisoning are frothing at the mouth and 

 most violent convulsions, which in a short time ordinarily end in death 



When cattle are severely poisoned the convulsions are so violent 

 that it is almost impossible to administer a remedy; in fact, no effec- 

 tive remedy is known, and death is almost certain to follow cases of 

 severe poisoning by this plant. It frequently happens that human 

 beings, especially children, are poisoned by Cicuta, in which case if 

 an emetic can be given promptly, so that the stomach is quickly 

 emptied, recovery usually takes place. Because of the fact that 

 ruminant animals can not empty the stomach by vomiting, this 

 remedy can not be applied to them. 



