Feb., 1906.] 
The Cause of Trembles in Cattle. 
467 
leaves of two plants (possibly 3 or 4?) and soaked them over 
night in about a pint of milk, of which he gave about a gill at 
about 9 M. to his tom-cat. The cat took about one-half of it. 
“About 9:30 it seemed to take effect and he tried very hard 
to vomit but could not. He took long, deep breaths. He was 
quiet and wanted to sleep very hard. All of a sudden he would 
tremble very hard, then again very little. A watery fluid 
passed from his eyes and mouth. He chose a spot in the sun 
and when driven away walked back in a staggering manner. He 
had no appetite. His senses seemed to be duller, as he did not 
care for anything. He went to sleep about 10:30 but did not 
sleep sound. He seemed to be in an unconscious state for the 
rest of the day. The next morning about 10:30 he walked about 
three rods and there died about noon.” 
Oscar lives in the country and I did not see the cat until he 
brought it to me dead. Weight estimated 4]/^ pounds. Post- 
mortem examination by Dr. H. C. Schcepfle and myself showed 
no lesion, inflammation, congestion or unnatural appearance of 
any organ. Brain not examined. Death followed more quickly 
in this case than in any of our other experiments. The cat was 
not fed the evening before giving the poisoned milk, so that 
digestion was probably rapid. As it was not taken from home 
and so was not kept in confinement, the case is especially 
interesting. 
No. 2. A female kitten weighing after death thirty ounces, 
had probably never been handled by anyone until caught for 
this experiment. My pupil, Alton Fuchs, cut up about half a 
pound of snake-root I had gathered and boiled it about an hour 
in a quart of water. When the water had become reduced to a 
syrupy liquid, about one tablespoonful in volume, it was poured 
into the throat of the cat and the outside of the throat tickled 
so that it was all swallowed. “Soon after the decoction was 
administered the cat acted as if she wanted to vomit but did not 
vomit at any time. When first turned loose in room of barn it 
was very active, but after half an hour seemed rather stupid. 
After an hour she escaped, but was caught while trving to get 
through a fence, being less active than before poisoning.” I first 
saw her about 2j/^ hours after extract w'as given, Iving in natural 
position, eyes directed toward us, but rather dull, took notice of 
anything held near but indisposed to move. Respirations 38 and 
30 per minute, doubtless increased by our presence. Movement 
of the back seemed greater than in normal breathing, and 
occasionally a spasmodic contraction ran along the muscles of 
the back. About noon the next day she took some milk. The 
symptoms continued much the same as the previous day, the 
spasms more frequent and pronounced, becoming worse in the 
