10 BULLETIN 1012, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 
‘mitted itself to be bridled or handled in any way, except when penned 
up at one corner of the corral. On this morning it could be approached 
easily and did not object to handling. The respiration was faster than 
normal, and at intervals retching was observed. In searching for 
the cause of the illness it was found that the horse had eaten some of 
a mixture of Z. paniculatus and hay that had been thrown into the 
corral. It was impossible to tell how much he had eaten, so that 
there was no means of telling what the dosage of the plant had been. 
The animal showed some abdominal discomfort, and at 9.30 a. m. 
he was. pawing the ground in a manner that indicated some pain. 
His respiration was about 60 a minute. During the forenoon this 
condition continued, with prolonged spells of retching, succeeded by — 
profuse salivation. The animal did not stagger or show any unusual 
weakness. This condition continued during the forenoon and part — 
of the afternoon, but by 4.30 p. m. he had practically recovered. 
As the horse was sick when first seen in the morning it was impossi- 
ble to tell how long the illness continued, but it must have been at 
least six hours and perhaps somewhat longer. The case is interesting 
because the symptoms were entirely comparable with those exhibited 
by sheep and cattle, but did not continue to the stage of weakness. 
Plate I, figure 6, shows the attitude which the horse assumed during 
the acute stage of the illness. 
DISCUSSION AND RESULTS. 
SYMPTOMS. 
Salivation.—Salivation appeared in all the cases observed during 
1919 and 1921, and was the most distinctive symptom. It occurred 
in 1920 in 3 of the 5 cattle cases, and in 11 of the 13 sheep cases. 
Salivation in most cases'is the first definite evidence of the effect 
of the plant. This, of course, can not be considered as an especial 
characteristic of Zygadenus poisoning, because it occurs in a great - 
many forms of intoxication from plants. | 
Nausea.—Nausea was exhibited in all the cases in 1919. It was 
common in the experimental animals of 1920 and 1921, but did not 
appear in all cases, probably because the sickness was not always 
very pronounced. Sometimes it was indicated only by regurgita- 
tion. Inone of the cattle and six of the sheep it resulted in vomiting. 
Weakness.—Muscular weakness occurred in 4 of the 5 cases of 1919, 
in 3 of the 13 sheep, and 2 of the 5 cattle in 1920, and in 6 of the sheep 
in 1921. In all but one of the cases this weakness was most pro- 
nounced in the hind legs and resulted in a characteristic staggering 
gait. In Sheep 569, which was very sick, and in Sheep. 641, which — 
died, this weakness was so pronounced that they were unable to 
stand. In Sheep 583 and Cattle 784 weakness was the only symp- 
tom noted except a depression in temperature. This is well shown 
in Plate II, figures 1 to 4, in the case of Sheep 569. . 
