ZYGADENUS, OR DEATH CAMAS. 29 
death without any exhibition of spasms. Plate VI, figure 2, shows 
sheep No. 161 in this condition of coma. Sheep that are poisoned 
on the range are more apt to be in this condition of prolonged coma 
than to show the more violent symptoms of dyspnoea exhibited by 
animals that are drenched or forcibly fed. 
SYMPTOMS IN HORSES AND CATTLE. 
No results on horses were reached in the experimental work at 
Grey cliff . From conversations with stockmen who have had experi- 
ence with horses poisoned by Zygadenus, it appears that, in general, 
the symptoms resemble those exhibited in sheep. 
In the cases of the two head of cattle which showed symptoms, the 
experiment was carried only to the point of proving the toxic effect 
of the plant, and no attempt was made to get a complete symptomatic 
picture. The animals became uneasy, displayed heightened reflexes, 
and one dragged the hind legs slightly. So far as they went, the 
symptoms were like those observed in sheep. 
AUTOPSIES. 
Autopsies were made on four cases in 1912, six in 1913, and seven 
in 1914. Of the cases in 1913, sheep No. 186, while showing distinct 
symptoms of Zygadenus poisoning, died as the result of the admin- 
istration of morphia. 
The appearances presented by these animals at the autopsies were 
quite uniform, though not alike in all details. In six cases there 
was epicarditis. In nearly all, the inner wall of the ileum was 
hypersemic or congested, and in all but one the lungs were congested. 
The kidneys were congested and more or less degenerated in most 
cases. Generally the heart was in systole, the contraction being 
most marked in the left ventricle. 
Generally speaking, then, the post-mortem appearances may be 
stated as including inflammation of the inner wall of the ileum and 
occasionally of the fourth stomach and large intestines, the heart 
in systole, congestion of the lungs, and congestion and more or less 
degeneration of the kidneys. Possibly the condition of epicarditis 
may be considered typical, although it was not noted in all the 
cases. 
The preserved material from the autopsies was examined by Dr. 
Mohler, and the following summarized statement of the pathological 
findings and the inferences to be drawn has been furnished by him: 
The most conspicuous phenomenon shown in all six cases was the high capillary 
blood pressure, manifested principally in those organs which eliminated the active 
principle of the ingested substance, that is, kidneys, lungs, and liver, being also shown 
to a less extent in the intestine. 
In the kidney the changes in the capillary varix were fullness to overdistention, 
which was accompanied by outwandering of leucocytes, diapedesis of the red blood 
