64 Polygonacex [ch. 



by veterinary surgeons of poisoning horses and sheep, some sheep even 

 dying. Pammel states that the Curled Dock {R. cris'pm L.) induces 

 nausea, watery brown faeces, copious urination, dry spasmodic cough, 

 and perspiration ; but no record of the death of animak has been found. 



In regard to R. AcetoseUa it is stated that in the horse a condition 

 may be produced resembUng drunkenness, with vacillating gait, saliva- 

 tion, muscular tremors, dilatation of pupils, relaxation of sphincters, 

 and a feeble, slow, and intermittent pulse : then convulsive contraction 

 of lips, retraction of the eyeball, accelerated and stertorous breathing, 

 extreme dilatation of the nostrils, tetanic contraction of the muscles of 

 the neck, back, and limbs, abundant sweating and falling. In bad cases 

 after a period of extreme exhaustion, these symptoms are repeated, and 

 death occurs in convulsions (Cornevin). 



The acid oxalates seem especially harmful to sheep, causing loss of 

 appetite, exhaustion, small and scarcely perceptible pulse, rapid breath- 

 ing, and constipation, and in many cases severe diarrhoea, uncertain gait, 

 and sometimes death (MliUer). 



The milk of affected cows is with difficulty made into butter (Pott). 



REFERENCES. 

 73, 141, 190, 203, 233. 



Polygonum sp. Several species of Polygonum are said to have 

 poisonous properties. The chief among them is Buckwheat (P. Fago- 

 pyrum), the grain of which is widely grown as a food for both man and 

 live stock. This plant, particularly the flowers, has given rise to a 

 weU-known rash in man, cattle, sheep, and pigs, with congestion and 

 tumefaction — especially of the head and ears. There is also nervous 

 disturbance, with agitation and hallucination — sheep, for example, 

 may butt against objects. The affection of the nervous centres may 

 lead to fatal results, which have followed in cattle, sheep, and pigs. 

 Little is known of this so-called Fagopyrism, hut after analytical and 

 spectroscopical researches on the colouring matter of the tegument Kurt 

 concluded that it is due to the chlorophyll. 



Persicaria (P. Persicaria L.) and Water-pepper (P. hyd/ropiper L.) 

 are also stated to be harmful, though the former has been considered 

 a nutritious plant and has been given to horses and cattle as a green 

 food. 



Both species, however, are said to cause a rash, and to contain 

 injurious narcotic substances. Persicaria is stated by Muller to have 

 caused inflammation of the bladder and the digestive tract in pigs, and 



