278 POISONING OF TWO COWS MY BLACK HELLEBORE. 
On the following day, he was requested by Col. Edmonds, 
at Hounslow Barracks, to destroy a young goat which had 
received an injury, and became paralised. He administered 
about two drachms of the acid, the remainder of the contents 
of the bottle used for the dog the day before, but it had not 
the least effect. The animal was' then left by him for the 
purpose of obtaining more acid, and on his return in about 
twenty minutes, he found him quite composed, and eating 
the grass around where he was lying. He then gave him a 
full ounce, the bottle not having been opened before. The 
animal laid quiet for about a minute, when, on his moving 
him, he got at some fresh grass, which he began eating as 
before. Mr. Hinge remained with him some time to see if 
the acid would take any effect, but finding it had none, he 
opened the carotid arteiy. 
The strength of the acid used for the dog, and the goat in 
the first instance, was 2 per cent, real acid; that of the 
second acid was 4 per cent., or Scheele’s strength. 
POISONING OF TWO COWS BY BLACK HELLEBORE. 
The cows were the property of Mr. Westwood, of Stow, 
near Downham Market, Norfolk. They had for some time 
been shut up in the yard, living upon dry food, having 
nothing but hay, with half a peck of sliced carrots per diem 
each. The plant was thrown by Mr. Westwood from the 
garden into the yard, he not thinking at the time that the 
cows would eat it ; but on looking at them a few minutes 
afterwards, he saw they were eating it very ravenously; and 
having heard of its poisonous properties, he removed what 
remained from them, or they would no doubt have eaten it 
all. This was in the afternoon ; and early next morning our 
immediate attendance was requested, the messenger stating 
that one cow was dead, and the other very ill. On arriving, 
we perceived, from the symptons presented by the living 
cow, that some poisonous agent was in full operation ; and 
on stating this to the owner, he remembered having given 
to the cows the before-named plant on the previous afternoon. 
The symptoms were purging, rumen distended with gas, 
saliva dribbling from the mouth, animal constantly lying 
down and getting up, and when made to move uttering a low 
groan. This cow also died in a very short time, being about 
twenty-four hours after she hud partaken of the hellebore 
plant. — Communicated by Mr . Hammond . 
