26 TECHNICAL BULLETIN 134, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 
After refusinjj to eat for several days, they consumed the mash with- 
out much hesitation. This food was continued for two weeks, during 
which time the chickens apparently grew as well as controls fed on 
imtreated mash. Odom Stewart, formerly of the Bureau of Biological 
Survey, in experiments with baby chicks at Raleigh, N. C, concluded 
that chicks are not likely to eat enough feed containing 10 per cent 
of powdered red squill in 1, 2, or 3 feedings to cause death, even when 
fed it to the exclusion of other foods. 
PIGEONS 
After a few picks, pigeons refused to eat mash containing 10 per 
cent of squill powder. Injection of 2,000 milligrams of squill powder 
per kilo of body weight into the crop failed to produce any noticeable 
effect. The injection of 3,000 and 4,000 milligrams per kilo resulted 
in emesis, but no other untoward effect could be noted. 
PIGS 
A dose of 250 milligrams of squill powder per kilo was given in a 
gelatin capsule at 10.45 a. m. to a 4-month-old pig weighing about 
16 kilograms. No evidence of squill action was noticeable until 
about 4 p. m., when signs of gastric distress developed. The pig 
vomited several times during the night. At 9 o'clock the next morning 
it was unable to stand without definite ataxia, and consistently 
refused food, but drank water freely. Some food was eaten at noon 
but it was vomited about 3 p. m. The pig's tail was limp and straight, 
although at the time of feeding it was tightly curled. On the second 
day after the injection the pig had practically recovered. 
After a 9-day intermission, to permit complete recovery from the 
first dose, a mixture of cracked corn and middlings containing 10 
per cent of the same squill powder was offered. The pig took only 
one or two bites, then grunted, refused further food, and vigorously 
rubbed its snout on the cage walls and floor. This reaction was 
probably due to the sting of the calcium-oxalate raphides. Half an 
hour later, and again the next morning, the same squill food w^as 
refused, but untreated food was readily consumed. 
Post-mortem examination showed nothing abnormal, except some 
evidence of irritation in the stomach. When the body weight of a 
Eig is considered, it is readily apparent that the quantity of squill 
ait required to cause toxic effects w^ould need to be very large. For 
this particular animal, the quantity of squill powder given would be 
sufficient to kill 16 kilograms (35 pounds) of rats. Under ordinary 
conditions of rat baiting, it hardly seems possible that a pig would 
consume enough poisoned bait to cause trouble. 
WOODCHUCKS 
Injected in aqueous suspension into the stomach of woodchucks, 
the minimum lethal dose of sample P. C. 18 was found to be 500 
milLigrams per kilo of body w^eight (the same as for rats). Vomiting, 
however, frequently foUowed even smaller doses. Baits containing 
squill were refused. SquiU does not seem to be suitable for use in 
controUing woodchucks. 
