Dec. 24,1917 Eupatorium urticaefolium as a Poisonous Plant 
711 
the terms “milk sickness” or “trembles” are included at least two dis¬ 
tinct things, one the poisoning of animals by E. urticaefolium , and the 
other a bacterial disease to which both animals and men are susceptible. 
Although the question of the differential diagnosis of the two diseases 
will be discussed in detail in the report of the bacteriological investi¬ 
gations, it may be noted here that trembling appears to be more dis¬ 
tinctly characteristic of Eupatorium poisoning, and that a subnormal 
temperature is one of the diagnostic symptoms of the bacterial diseases, 
while poisoning by E. urticaefolium produces no distinct effect on the 
temperature. 
CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH ANIMALS MAY BE POISONED 
It is known that stock may be pastured where E. urticaefolium is 
abundant, and that the use of these pastures may be continued for 
years with no harm. Most of the cases of poisoning occur in the late 
summer and fall and generally in years when there is a deficiency of 
moisture and a consequent shortage of forage grasses. Cases also occur 
when grazing animals are confined to a limited area on which the plant 
is abundant. The experimental work shows that E. urticaefolium is 
not palatable to our domestic animals and that they will avoid it in 
the presence of other foods. As in the case of most stock-poisoning 
plants, there is a direct relation between shortage of food and cases of 
poisoning, although, of course, sporadic cases may occur under other 
conditions. 
REMEDIES 
Sick animals should be treated with remedies to relieve the constipation 
and increase elimination. To this end purgatives may be used, of which 
perhaps Epsom salts is the best. This should be used in doses of 1 pound 
for a 1,000-pound animal. The feed should be laxative, like bran, oil 
. meal, etc. In parts of North Carolina it is customary to feed milk-sick 
animals with green corn and pumpkins, and there is good reason to 
consider this a desirable diet. 
Inasmuch as the toxic substance of the plant is eliminated very slowly, 
quick recovery must not be expected, and the animals should be given 
somewhat prolonged attention. 
PREVENTION 
In many places milk-sick areas have been fenced off with consequent 
prevention of losses. In some localities where E. urticaefolium is par¬ 
ticularly abundant this evidently is advisable. The clearing of land and 
seeding to corn, grain, or grasses will of course stop the trouble. It has 
long been known that trembles affects animals pastured on unbroken 
land and that the disease disappears after cultivation. 
So far as getting rid of the plant is concerned, however, it must be 
remembered that partial clearing is not sufficient. It is true that the 
