STOCK-POISONING PLANTS OF THE KANGE. 17 



WHITE LAUREL. 



White laurel (Azalea occidentalis) is illustrated in Plate XXI. It 

 is found in the Coast Ranges and the Sierras, growing at a slightly- 

 lower level than the black laurels, and causes considerable losses of 

 sheep. 



RHODODENDRON ALBIFLORUM. 



Rhododendron albifiorum, illustrated in Plate XXII, is common in 

 the mountains of the Northwest and has undoubtedly caused some 

 losses, although it is not very generally recognized as a poisonous 

 plant. Preliminary experiments apparently show that it is more 

 poisonous than Menziesia, but less so than the black laurels. 



SYMPTOMS OF LAUREL POISONING. 



The symptoms are practically the same in all cases of laurel poi- 

 soning. There is salivation resulting in frothing at the mouth, 

 nausea ordinarily accompanied by vomiting, depression, weakness 

 shown by a staggering gait or inability to stand, and irregular respi- 

 ration. Grinding of the teeth is frequently noticed in sick animals. 



TREATMENT OF LAUREL POISONING. 



Little can be done in the way of remedial treatment. Anything 

 that will aid in elimination will be of some benefit, and to this end 

 purgatives may be given, such as Epsom salt in doses of 4 ounces. 

 The main reliance, however, must be placed on prevention. Herders 

 should learn to recognize and avoid the plants. 



FERN. 



The common bracken fern, Pteris aquilina, which is illustrated in 

 Plate XXIII, should be mentioned here as one of the poisonous 

 plants, although the losses from it are probably not large. It has 

 long been known abroad that the fern is poisonous to cattle and 

 horses. There have been comparatively few reports in this country 

 of such losses, and those are largely confined to the Northwest. 

 There is no doubt that ferns will poison both cattle and horses, and 

 probably sheep, and care should be taken that hungry animals shall 

 not have an opportunity to consume any large quantity. 



WILD CHERRY. 



For years there have been persistent reports of poisoning, especially 

 of sheep, from eating wild-cherry leaves. There has been great 

 difficulty in proving the truth of these stories, for it has frequently 

 happened that of several bands going through a mass of wild cherry, 

 possibly only one would suffer, while the others would go through in 

 an entirely safe manner. A large number of experiments have been 



