NUTTALl/s DEATH CAMAS AS A POISONOUS PLANT 
11 
The microscopic examination of the tissues of this animal was nearly 
as barren of results as the autopsy. In the alimentary canal no altera- 
tion of significance was found unless a mild edema and the presence 
of a somewhat unusual number of lymphocytes in the corium and, 
to some extent, in the submucosa of the rumen may be considered 
as indicating a slight irritation. 
Of the various glandular organs the kidneys alone were affected and 
in them the changes were mild in character. Both kidneys were 
somewhat congested, shown mainly in the veins and intertubular 
capillaries of the cortex. The epithelium of the convoluted tubules 
was somewhat swollen and granular, and showed some slight tendency 
to disintegrate. The nuclei, however, were well stained. 
Nothing was found in this animal which disagrees with the changes 
described in cases of poisoning by other species of Zygadenus. 
TOXIC AND LETHAL DOSAGE 
Sheep. — The smallest quantity of stems, leaves, and flowers pro- 
ducing intoxication was in the case of sheep 755, which was poisoned 
on 0.18 per cent of its weight. As sheep 761 received 0.125 per cent 
without effect, it may be presumed that 0.18 per cent is about the 
minimum toxic dose. 
Sheep 712 was poisoned by 0.09 per cent of its weight of bulbs. 
Sheep 721 was killed by 1.2 per cent of its weight of stems, leaves, 
and flowers, and sheep 741 was made very sick by 1 per cent. It 
seems probable that 1.2 per cent is not far from the minimum lethal 
dose. 
Sheep 759 died after receiving 0.125 per cent of its weight of bulbs, 
but this sheep was diseased and its death was only in part due to 
the Zygadenus nuttallii. As sheep 752 was made very sick on 0.516 
per cent of its weight, it seems probable that the minimum lethal dose 
of bulbs is somewhat greater than 0.516 per cent. 
In Bulletin 1240 were tabulated the data for the comparative 
toxicity of the species of Zygadenus which had been studied up to 
that time. Comparing with" this table such facts as we have in these 
experiments, it appears that Z. nuttallii is much more poisonous than 
the western species. 
Cattle. — The cattle upon which the experiments were made received 
the plant with hay and ate it during a period varying from one to 
four days. Under such circumstances, we should expect the dosage 
to be somewhat larger than in the case of the sheep which received 
the plant by single forced feedings. 
All the experimental cattle received feedings of the whole plant. 
The smallest quantity which produced symptoms was in the case of 
cattle 965, which was poisoned by 0.25 per cent of animal weight. 
This was fed in two days, 0.14 per cent being received the first day 
and 0.11 per cent the second day. Cattle 995 was poisoned on 0.44 
Eer cent of its weight. This was also eaten in two days, 0.22 per cent 
eing eaten on each day. 
There were no cattle killed in the course of the experiments. Cattle 
997 received 1 per cent of its weight, which was eaten in an hour's 
time and produced sickness, which would indicate that the lethal 
dose was something over 1 per cent of the animal weight. 
The results with experimental cattle, although not very definite in 
regard to either toxic or lethal dosage, would indicate the" probability 
