16 



Lamb-kill. 



There are several plants of the heath family (Ericaceae) that have 

 a bad effect upon farm animals, many sheep and cattle being killed 

 by them. The narrow-leaved laurel (Kalmia angustifolia L. ) is a 

 small evergreen shrub, with narrow leaves and clusters of pink five- 

 angled flowers, borne some inches below the end of the branch. It is 

 abundant in many parts of the State, particularly along sandy bogs, 

 and from some of the common names the general nature of the plant 

 may be inferred, for it is called both " sheep poison " and "lamb- 

 kill." After having had only dry food through the winter, sheep 

 are attracted by the evergreen leaves of the plant and eat it in consid- 

 erable quantity, when otherwise they might be unharmed. 



Poison Laurel. 



A much larger species of the same genus as given above is the 

 broad-leaved laurel (Kalmia latifolia L. ), which, as a shrub, attains 

 several feet in height, is nearly globular in shape, bearing large, 

 shining evergreen leaves, and in June terminal clusters of showy, 

 pink flowers, as shown in Figure 7 (Plate IV.), along with the shape 

 of the glossy evergreen foliage. It is found along the banks of 

 streams and rocky hillsides, and bears many common names, as 

 "poison laurel," "sheep laurel," " mountain laurel " and "calico 

 bush." It is mentioned here because of its ill effects upon live 

 stock. Sheep, for example, after eating of it become nauseated, 

 dizzy, followed by loss of sight, irregular breathing and in the worst 

 cases, death. 



The active principle andromedotoxin pervades the plant and is an 

 exceedingly poisonous crystalline substance, having nearly the same 

 toxic effects upon all creatures, but the fatalities are mostly among 

 herbivorous animals. A case of poisoning with this plant coming 

 under the writer's observation was due to wreaths of the laurel that 

 had been thrown into a pasture from an adjoining cemetery in early 

 spring, where the cows browsed upon them. Persons who make use 

 of this plant for winter decorations should bear in mind its poisonous 

 qualities. Fat of any sort, if given to animals in the early stages of 

 the poisoning, is beneficial. 



There are several other of the heath family that have toxic prop- 

 erties, as the "calf-kill" or "dog laurel" (Leucothoe. racemosaL.), 

 frequent in low grounds throughout the middle and southern coun- 



