POISONING BY RANUNCULUS. 



The ranunculus acris (tall crowfoot), repens (creeping crow- 

 foot), sceleratus (cursed crowfoot), and bulbosus (butter cup), are 

 all more or less acrid and liable to produce gastro-enteritis when 

 taken in quantity. They are usually avoided by animals but will 

 sometimes be taken by accident with other vegetation. Sheep are 

 said to eat ranunculus bulbosus with impunity (Daubenton). 

 Both cattle and sheep suffered from the other species (Delafond, 

 L,ipp, Brugnone, Delplanque). There were salivation, colic, 

 emesis in vomiting animals, diarrhoea, vertigo, spasms, grinding 

 of the teeth, arched back and staring coat. Treatment would be 

 emesis or the stomach pump when available, mucilaginous drinks 

 andenemata. Johnson (Medical Botany of North America) had 

 a herd of cows abort for years on a field thickly set with ranun- 

 culus acris, but which ceased to abort when removed to a field 

 from which this weed was absent. 



Delphinium Tricorne (stagger weed) has proved fatal to 

 cattle in Ohio in April when the fresh leaves appear. 



D. Consolida (field larkspur) is deadly to cattle that eat the 

 seeds with grain. 



D. Menziesii (purple larkspur) common in North Western 

 States may destroy sheep. Dr. Wilcox in Montana met with a 

 mortality of 250 out of 600 sheep from this cause. An extract 

 made from an ounce of the dried leaves killed a yearling lamb. 

 Yet, in May, in Washington, Dr. Nelson fed 5 lbs. of the fresh 

 green leaves, and in 5 days no less than 24 lbs. without a fatal 

 result. The stage of growth of the plant has manifestly a con- 

 trolling influence. 



D. Geyeri which forms tempting dark green tufts in the bare 

 Wyoming fields in spring often proves deadly to stock. 



D. Recurvatum is a deadly growth of the wet, alkaline soil 

 in Southern California. 



D. Trolliifolium growing along the coast from N. California 

 to Washington is very destructive to stock at all stages of its 

 growth. 



Aconitam Napellus and A. Columbiana are especially 

 deadly to sheep, other animals avoiding them more. 



Actea Alba (white baneberry) and A. Rubra (red baneberry) 

 are very toxic but usually repulsive to stock. 



19 289 



