POISONOUS PLANTS 223 



and X. strumarium, which are occasionally found in Britain, 

 have also been suspected of being poisonous. 



In South Africa several plants are described as ' bietouw.' 

 They appear to cause fatal tympanites, unless kept down 

 by grazing. When allowed to grow up, deaths may occur 

 on the return of stock. The species implicated under this 

 head, given by Walsh, are Haplocarpha lyrata, Dimor- 

 photheca cuneata and D. nudicaulis, .Lasiospermum radiatum, 

 and Osteospermum moniliferum. 



Two African stock diseases caused by plants of the Com- 

 positcB appear to be more definitely known, and therefore 

 merit more detailed description — viz., ' vomeerziekte,' or 

 vomiting sickness, and senecio poisoning, or ' Molteno 

 cattle disease.' 



Vomeerziekte. 



This complaint is caused by the small-branched shrub 

 Geigeria passerinoides, or vomeerbosje, found in the North 

 Eastern parts of the Cape Colony. The flower is yellow, 

 about f inch in diameter, and resembles the sunflower in 

 structure. 



Poisoning by this plant affects chiefly goats and sheep. 

 Walsh states that when fed experimentally to sheep the 

 results are negative, and suggests that it may be that 

 the plant must be eaten in large quantities, or that it is 

 only dangerous at certain seasons, or that it does not 

 generate any poison when well nourished. 



Symptoms. — Sheep and goats vomit continually, the 

 vomiting being accompanied by a husky cough, and 

 attempts to swallow the vomit. There is great loss of 

 condition and attendant weakness, and death follows 

 exhaustion. 



The lesions are inflammation of the fourth stomach, and 

 inflammation of the lungs and bronchi, caused no doubt by 

 passage of vomitus into the trachea. 



In treatment alkalis and sedatives are advised, since the 

 irritant seems to be of an acid character. After vomition 

 has been checked, purgatives may be given. 



