194 VETEEINAEY HYGIENE 



frequently followed by asphyxia. A lathyrus - affected 

 animal is generally worse on a cold wet day. It takes 

 some weeks before the poison is eliminated, during which 

 time the animals must not be put to work. 



The lathyrus seed is small and mottled, and its charac- 

 teristic shape is that of a short, blunt wedge. It bears a 

 dark band along the margin of the wedge. 



Lupine, another leguminous plant, is largely grown on 

 the Continent of Europe owing to its very nutritious nature, 

 but only sheep can partake of it. It is poisonous to horses 

 and cattle, and even sheep suffer at times if the quantity 

 given be too large. It has always to be mixed with some 

 other fodder. 



The poison is known as lupinotoxin, and appears to be 

 produced as the result of some peculiar fermentation, either 

 during the life of the plant, or after it has been saved. 

 Steaming the hay for some hours under pressure renders it 

 wholesome, presumably by killing the ferment. 



Boucher says that lupines produce inflammation of the 

 digestive tract, and gradual cachexia. 



The blackish wrinkled seeds of corn-cockle, Githago 

 segetum, sometimes found mixed with oats, are said to 

 possess injurious properties, though we have no personal 

 experience of their ill effects on horses. 



Potato Poisoning. — For some time it has been recognised 

 that roots and potatoes which have undergone change, 

 either as the result of frost or from ordinary decomposition, 

 are very liable to give rise to symptoms of poisoning. 



At present we are ignorant of the toxic substance pro- 

 duced, or whether there is more than one formed under 

 different conditions ; it is certain damaged roots and 

 potatoes may at times be given without producing harm, 

 while at others they are productive of mischief. 



One thing is clear, that potato poisoning from alkaloid 

 substances, probably generated by bacteria or fungi, is well 

 known to exist, for the poison is in no way removed by 

 steaming the potatoes, which is evidence that the substance 

 in all probability is not of the nature of an organism. 



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