UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA 
CICUTA 
3 1262 08925 9609 
in spring than later in the season, a very httle at any time of the yea 
may cause ilbiess or even death. 
PART OF THE PLANT POISONOUS. 
The rootstock of Cicuta is always poisonous. Cases have been 
reported of the poisoning of live stock from eating the tops, both 
green and in hay, but careful experiments by the Office of Poisonous- 
Plant Investigations have shown quite conclusively that there is no 
danger from the leaves or seeds, either w^hen eaten green or when 
dried in hay. Poisoning results only from the ingestion of the roots^ 
and the fact that Cicuta tops are sometimes gathered with the hay 
which is made on irrigated farms need give the farmer no concern^ 
provided the roots are not included. 
REMEDIES FOR CICUTA POISONING. 
In cases of the poisoning of human beings the recognized treatment 
is to give an efficient emetic, followed by a cathartic. Some form of 
opium may be given to control the convulsions when they are violent. 
If free vomiting is promptly produced, the patient is likely to recover. 
It is obvious that ruminant animals can not be treated in this way, 
for the effective clearing of the stomach is impossible. While hypo- 
dermic injections of morphin may be used to aid in controlling the 
convulsions and a purgative may help in eliminating the poison,, 
ordinarily the convulsions are so violent that nothing can be done 
for the animal. All cases of poisoning of domestic animals by Cicuta 
must be considered as practically hopeless, so far as treatment is con- 
cerned. All cases are not necessarily fatal, for many recover, but 
there is little, if anything, which can be done to aid recovery. 
So far as live stock are concerned, about all that can be done must 
be in the way of prevention. If the land is plowed where the plant 
grows, care should be taken that no roots are left where stock can 
get at them. Where the plants grow in great abundance, as the}^ 
frequently do along irrigating ditches, it is desirable to dig them out. 
When this is done the roots should not be left on the surface, but 
should be destroyed. It is seldom that stock are poisoned when 
grazing, unless they graze along ditches, where the plants sometimes 
grow almost in the water with ver\^ little soil and can easily be 
pulled up. 
Perhaps there is no way to prevent some cases of poisoning of 
children. Something might be accomplished, however, if parents 
and teachers would attempt to make clear to children the danger of 
eating strange roots. 
n^fl'yMgS/s^fegf^T. 
/ OA<0 
£> nkCD/^OlTPkDV 
WASHINGTON : GOVlOFiNMENT I'RINTING OP^KICE : ISIt 
