228 POISONING. 



the Indians. In Oregon it is erroneously called " lobelia " by most 

 stockmen and farmers. Horses, cattle, and slieeii, as well as man, 

 are poisoned l)y eating the bull). 



Zygadenus elegans. — The bulbs, and perhaps the leaves, of the 

 Glaucous zi/(/(idi'niis, or alkali grass, are poisonous to cattle. 



CONVALLAEIACBJE (LILY OF THE VALLEY FAMILY). 



ConYallaria majalis. — All parts of the lily of the valley are power- 

 fully poisonous, and are liable to injure cattle and horses. 



H.EJioDor.ACE^ (bloodwort family). 



Gyrotheca capitata. — This is the red root, or paint root, of the 

 Atlantic coast and Cuba, so called on account of the red colour of its 

 sap. White hogs are supposed, throughout the Southern United States, 

 to be particularly subject to the poison contained in the plant. 



FAGACEiE (beech FAMILY). 



Quercus sp. — In Europe the acorns of various species of oak cause 

 sickness and death in hogs and cattle. This effect may possibly be due 

 to tympanites, l^ut may also be due in some way to the tannin or the 

 1 litter principle which they contain. 



POISONING BY AC0];NS. 



The acorn, or fruit of the oak {Qnei-cus roliiii- and Quercus scssili- 

 jiiira), is much valued as a food for swine. "A peck of acorns a day 

 with a little bran will make a hog, 'tis said, increase a pound weight 

 per diem for t\v(j months together." Though largely consumed by swine 

 with no ajiparent ill effects, acorns constitute a dangerous food for young 

 cattle, especially wlicu eaten before they are lipe and when herbage or 

 other feeding is scanty or restricted. 



The symptoms com^jrise dulness, loss of appetite, constipation, 

 followed by diarrluea, with straining and colicky pains, head carried 

 low, eyes retriicted, with mucus about the eyeli<ls and blood-stained 

 discharge from the nose. Frec^uently the abdomen is distended. 

 Temperatare normal. 



The lesions are, alirasious of the buccal membrane on the palate, 

 cheeks, etc. ; impaction and intense congestion of the omasum. 



Treatment. Change of pasture. Alkalies — potash or soda bicar- 

 bonate, magnesia : tonics and stimulants. 



