FOOD 183 



Act(ea spicata is generally avoided by animals, but when 

 partaken of is poisonous. In small quantities it diminishes 

 the secretion of milk. 



The Anemone group contains many poisonous plants, 

 which produce dysentery and hsematuria if taken in any 

 quantity. Clematis flammula and vitalba both produce 

 vesication of the skin in the green state, but lose this 

 property on drying. 



Gratiola officinalis is very poisonous both in the green 

 and dry state, producing enteritis and purging. Cori- 

 aria myrtifolia and Fritillaria meleagris and imperialis, 

 are all irritant poisons. Rhus coriaria produces great skin 

 irritation, and Allium, Crow garlic, contains an irritating 

 powerfully smelling essential oil, which in large doses 

 causes death. The smell of this oil may readily be dis- 

 tinguished in the excretions, and also in the milk. 



The genus Euphorbia furnishes many members pos- 

 sessing markedly poisonous properties ; dogs' mercury, for 

 instance, causes inflammation of the bowels and diarrhoea 

 in both sheep and cattle ; horses are also affected, but it is 

 said they generally avoid it. 



Chesnut* describes the Larkspur as poisonous, and says 

 this view is held by the majority of stockmen of the north- 

 west of the United States. There are six hurtful species, 

 they produce symptoms resembling aconite poisoning. The 

 antidote is atropine hypodermically, and potassium per- 

 manganate by the mouth. 



The same author refers to the poisoning produced by 

 the Death Camas, Zygadenus venenosus ; this is a poisonous 

 bulb which looks like grass when young, and resembles 

 the poisonous Tulp of South Africa, though the plants are 

 different botanically. The Camas affects all animals but 

 more particularly sheep. 



Corn Stalk disease, Chesnut tells us, is not understood ; 

 cattle get affected by grazing on maize crops after they have 

 been reaped, but whether it is an insect or a fungus which is 

 to blame has not been determined. Green Sugar-sorghum may 



* Op. cit. 



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