UMBELLIFERAE — COWBANE 



657 



rick formerly of the Oregon Experiment Station have shown experimentally 

 that this species is poisonous. A bulb was cut in small pieces, mixed with a 

 carrot and fed to a two year old gfrade heifer. The animal was fed at 8:00 

 a. m. and at 9:30 it was dead. A post-mortem examination showed that pieces 



Fig. 374. Oregon water hemlock (Cicuta 

 vagans) : a, plant with leaves, one-sixth natural 

 size; b and b', rootstock and horizontal roots, 

 showing section, half size; c, terminal leaflets, 

 one-sixth natural size ; d, flowering spray. (U. 

 S. Dept. Agr.) 



of the root occurred in the rumen, and in the reticulum or second stomach. 

 Only a very small portion of the root had been eaten by the animal. Two 

 grams were found in the stomach. The lungs were highly congested. 



The following day a one year old calf was fed with the poisonous roots. 

 The temperature of the animal was normal, IQZYz". Two bulbs the size of an 

 egg were cut and mixed with carrots; this material was eaten under protest. 

 The roots were fed at 9:15 a. m. and at 9:40 the temperature was 103; at 10:00, 

 103J4° ; at 10 :25, 104° and the animal was trembling about the flanks, the eyes 

 watered freely; at 10:35 the animal was excited and the temperature was 104^° ; 

 at 10:45 the animal fell over on its side in a spasm. The eyes were drawn and 

 the muscles were rigid and Contracted violently. 



Before death an attempt was made to revive the animal by giving it spirits 

 of turpentine; this caused the calf to recover its feet and walk about. A second 



