2 5 I~ IIIiI2.8 2 5 :; ""I 2.8 11111_ . 11111 . 1.0 1.0 Ii.': '= w~ ~I"~ w~ III"~ .2 L:: I~ L:: ~J~ I:.:: I:.:: ~ g~ 2.0 ~ I~ '- " '"'- " 1.1 ...... u 1.1 1jJL;.1,.\. - --- - 111111.8
111111.25 111111.4 111111.6 111111.25 111111.4 111111.6
MICROCOPY RESOLUTION TEST CHART MICROCOPY RESOLUTION TEST CHART NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS·1963-A NATIONAL BUREAU or STANDAROS·1963·A v -~======~ In~;rrm;rrE'CH~IIc. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE \VASHINGTON, D. C. ~/IOUNTAIN-LAUREL (KAL1vIIA LATIFOLIA) AND SHEEP LAUREL (KAL~UA ANGcSTIFOLIA) AS STOCK-POISONING PLANTS By C. DWIGHT MARSH, Associate Physiologi ~ t-= ~ l:i CO~TEXTS !'! c -' > rnl,",' Page !:! a: Introduction•••••, ...... I . Discussion anel general conclusions-C'ontd. .l !-Description nnd blstory...... _.,' 1 Time [rom feeding to appearance of to:: Ul Kalmialntifolin...... I sympto~_...... _...... 15 ~ K~IUli:l angustifoli!l...... :1 Dumtionofslckness...... 16 .. Z Expenmcntnl work...... ,"". ,( Remedies.... __ •_____ ...... IS ',~ - KolminlntiColia...... c!i Kalrn in nngustifolin.. '''",, __ , Animalsnlfccled by the plants...... to lU 20 G hi Discussion and geneml conclusions.. Conditionsunderwhich pofsoningoccurs. ., (j Symptoms...... __ ' . I:? . PoL>onin!;by ilel'h oennfmnls which have 1~ : eaten Kalmia...... _...... __ ... :?O Z .. Z ~ficroscopiechnn!(esinnniruul ti~sllcS 12 I >'ummnry•.,. __ ...... ~Q '(!:! Toxic nn'llcrhal dosage...... 11 • Literatllre cIted...... __ ._...... __ •••••••••• :?t ~1 0 I') III ..: INTRODUCTION I{ahnia 7atifo7ia and g. angustifolia, commonly known a" monn tain-Iallrel anel ~heep laurel. l'e~pectj\'ely, Ill'(' :llllong the most promi nent stock-poisoning plants of the ('astern part of the enited States. They are widely di~triblltl'(1. wpll known to most people in the region ,,1)(,1'e tlw)' are found. nIHl prizl'd hp('tlllH' of tl1('ir beauty. 1Yhile many pl'ople: r('('ognizl' t1wm HS j,Pillg poi,,;ol1ol,ls. definite information in regard to the (lffp('t pl'o DESCRIPTION AND HISTORY KALMIA LATIFOLIA K. latifoliCL is sho'wll in'Figure L The following- dl:'scl'iptioll of the plant is from Gmy's },Tew)Iulluul of Botany. (fl. I). (j.U)! : 1 Italic IlUmbCl'S in pnrentbcl'I.'S n'fet: to I.ltl'rntlll'" {'it('ti, p. 21. 15144°-1\0-_1 1 GII'I ·JAN .14 1931 ~.,. 2 TECHNICAL BLTLLETIN 219, 1:. S. DEPT. OF AGlUCULTUllE Leave,,' mostly alternate, brig-ht green botll shk;.:, oyatc-lnnceolate or oblong, acute at each end, petioled; cor;rlllus terminal, many t!owel'ed, clammy-pubes cent; flowers 1.5-2.5 (~Il1. brotlt1, Ilink or white; lIOn depr('!"sed, glandular. Rocky hills :Illcl damp soH, N_ B. to Ont.• llll(l southw. TJl'uallj' a shrub, hut. in the mt". from Pa. soutlm-oo oftell tl·c!!-like. lIrlt~--.Tlllr. 1,'rlH'JI~J 1.-.-~rouutaill-laul'cl f Kulmi(l /(fti[oCif! t. "I\Owill~ till' plllllt in hlos"Olll find (111' "tl'lH'tlll'I' or lh,' IlolI"l'l' In the NC)I'tllei'1l Stnte~ thi" plallt is commollly eaHe<1 mountaill lalll'rl. In the South it i:-; generally calle!l in'. Other name" which haY(' been used are calieo flll:.-;h, br('jH(llpnf ltllil'C'l, hip:h lann~l, P01;;011 iry, monntain iT)" ivy bu::h~ h-,Ywood, big iyy. spoonWOt) ,..'(;, 4 TECHNICAL BULLETIN 219, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRlCULTURE gliUldular, many-flowered; flowers rarely 1 cm. broad, crimson; calyx glnndular; pod depressed, nearly smooth; pedicels recurvecl in fruit. Hillsides, pastures, and bogs, Lab. to Ont., and southw. June, July. The plant is most commonly known as sheep laurel. Other names which have been applied to it are calfkill, lambkill, killkid, narrow leaf laurel, dwarf laurel, sheep poison, spoonwood ivy, i.vy, winter- . green, and wicky. While the plant had been seen by' prececling authors, Gronovius (13) and Oatesby (5) in 1743, it was first given its permanent scientific name by Linnaeus in 1753 (16). The first notice of its poisonous properties was by Colden in 1749 (9) . whoaaid that it was deadly to sheep. Kalm (15, 1). ~, p. 215 216) in 1771 stated that it poisoned" sheep and other lesser animals." As will be seen from the foregoing descriptions the two plants differ markedly in size, form of leaves, and color of flowers. The corymbs in K. latifolia are terminal. while in K. angustifolia. they are laterali this difference is clearly seen in Figures 1 and 2. The plants are ordinarily called evergreen. This is not strictly true as the leaTes are shed at the end of. the second snmmer. There fore, in the smnmer the plants have the leaves of two seasons and in the winter of one. In both plants the corollas are salver shaped and the stamens bent over and attached in little pockets, as shown in Figure 1. The stamens are under tension, and when released by the movement of insects seeking honey throw the pollen with considerable force. This force is so great that the pollen is thrown upon other blossoms, and in this way Illld by the transfer of the pollen to other blossoms by the insects cross-fertilization is broufrht, about. EXPERIMENTAL WORK Oomparatively little e:\.-perimental work has been clone to determine the symptoms, dosage, and treatment of poisoning b)~ these species of Kalmia. The following anthors made some experiments with K. latifolia: Thomas (19), in 1802; Bigelow (.'3), in 18l'7; Orawford (10) , in 1908; and Ohesnut (6, 8), in 1898 and 1899. The only author who has reported experiments with K. angu.stifoUn is Wood (121). in 1883. The results obtained by these authors wili be alluded to later under Discussion and Gf'neral Oonclusions. The experimental w.ork of the ·writers was carried on at the Salina Expe.riment Station, 8a11na, rtah, in the years 1927, 1928, and 1929. '1'he material used was collected in the eastem part of the United States and after drying was shipped to 8alina.2 l\Iost of the experiments were mltele by administering to the ani mals, by balling gun, weighed quantities of ground plant moistened 'with water. In a few cases the animals ate the plant which had been mixed with hay or bran. WIth K. latifoUa there were 8 experiments with cattle, 5 with goats, and 16 with sheep. 'With K. fJlngustifo7ia there were 7 experiments with cattle, 2 with goats, and 32 with sheep. Tables 1 and 2 give It summarized stntement of the experimental feedings. In these tables the dosage is given as green plant, it being assumed that the plnnt lost 75 per' cent in drying. "Acknowledgment is maclP of the servlccH of W. W. Eggleston and J. W. Kelly, ot th<' Bureau of Plant Industry, who collected the plant mntcrhtl at various times In lIIaryfnnd and Massnchusctts. '.I'A 111-11 I.~.. 1{IIIIt'llwl'!J 0/ j/?cr/illo ('.r.fl(ln:III(lIlI,~with !C(llmin IIlN/oUn .\nhllU! .1'01' (;\'nl. 1'1lnnfj.11I1I1 [)(nnlntol I'll"'" lind ILnl.I' ofillillll, 111110'(.r \' ;\!\ltllUlI o( ltl'SIlI~ IlOI\l\\rks \l::' ----.~~ - ~ ~ f £""11111& fN·,lhlH uSPll w"lght ~oll!·"tl[)11 gi\Y(lJ\ D~-slgnnlionI\\~~~1I1 ~ Cnttlr: POI/mit i I I), an LllllhUJIl, Mel., Ju])', 1IJ2/i.i ~ No. 1I20 700 R~Jll.15,1027\ nulling gUll .... LNlVNl nnd n Nnt sick, I ("II' fI()wrr~ ~ 1)0 • U5.5 Aug. :11, Jwn: l _do. ~- _do. .5() .. lio.. I Vrry sick .- ...... t. .3., .do. . . Not sick No.4 ... ll.1 Srpl. Iii, 1O~'1 .do I ,,(Ir, ...., ...... tlO pr11, __ __ g No.l7 .. fi7 J ull' 12, lOaoI ...do.__ '.. .((0 • : ('learnt'lll, 1'11.,.\ 1I,'llJ.: Slck ...... Shet'p: t9 .00 LlIllhllll1, lIft1., .July, 1025_1 Sick...... t" No. lOIS.. U7.5 July 27,1027. .do... II' .. (\0 .. I No.102L. J 10.:; )uly 28, 11m : .110.. .. .•• (\0.. . .liO.do...... I)""th ...... __..... 1 Lluseccloilnsednsnremedy, Ul .40 j .tlo... Not sick 1 HymptOlns rosslhl~'overlooked. No. 102~ 100 July 2U,1I)27 .rlo...... do., ...... ;. No.I021i. 100 Aug. 1, 1!l27 .do...... <1(1•• ..10. ..<10 ...... rlo ...... i \In. Ul No.102i! 113.5 Aug. 8,]027 t .do.. ..<10. •-H t .•rlo. __ • ...... SOllll'wlult sick..... " No. 1020 100 AIII;.1I,i!l27 .do.. . .. do .... Ii:! ::mI ~~J~:: 0 No. 1034. 108 Aug. 14, \027 .do.. LOIln's lind !1 Jg:: ....:::::::::::: .f .... I (I'IV flowers. Ul No.lOaS. 1115,Ii' Aug, 15,1027! .,rlo.. do Not sIck 0 .... • ~'OI".. 1]0 ... No. U7:l. 83. Ii Aug. 17, 1!l27: ..dn... .rlo .. •:10 .... do ...... do ...... Z •:l1i do HymptoJlls,._ ~~~_. No. 11-14. !5~ Hl'Pt. H, 1Il27 I .uo." •• ", ....(10 .' ...... 0 •!Ill I .. __ 1]0 "" Sornoll'hal sick 1.inslJN] oil usod as 1\ prevontlvo. Nn. 1iJ;l~JIll ';I'Pt. Iii, 1\J27 ' .do ... .dn ...... q Not sick Do. NO.IHtI ,1011 ~l'\\t...17, am I .110...... rlo .flO i ..tlo ..... Ul No. 1000 . 80.5 Sl·P!. 1Ii,11)27! .do". . .dn .• •110 .. rio" ... Sick...... lAnseled 011 used itS 1\ rCIlU1r1~'. Not sick .. Linsced oil USOIIus 11preventive. No,100S.. 61.•~ ... do .. ! do.... " ... lIo ...... ::~l::::::·8Ick . Unsenrl oilllsed !IS 1\ Tomody. No.102L. 87.5 ~~Pl.2l,LU271.rln .. " ...... Cn :!~,.-- ·.'.;,,>-'"'';;::;<'~;1~: .·.c·~'·'5 ...,.•• TABLE 2.-SummaI'Y o[[eedi-no experi1llents with K(/lmia af!{jusl1jol-ia ~ ~----- . ",.------'-'-"-"~'-- Animal Per cent Dllte o( 1I1ethod o( Part of plllnt Io( animal Place, l\fld \late o( plant I lto111orks 1 (ceIling (ceding used weight collection Result --. ~. Designation I Weight, I gjycn I 0 C;;tt1c: --I~' ..' . ·1---·----.---·---, .....-.__.- III No.llM •• , ~~o July 20,1028 Bllllingglln.. J.eIl'·IlS...... 0.25 Alllherst,MI1$s.,JuJy.1028 .. $YIll1>tOIll5 __ ~ I ...... 0 ~~:n~::i ~g;;:~{~~: ~~', ~~~~,::=:~l~::=::::: ::::::l~::::::::l:~~::::::I~:::::::::::::::::::·i·sj~k(~O:.~::::::::::::::I No. 1101._. 535 Sept. 11. 19'.l.~..... 110...... ,..... dO.. ''''''1 .20 ..... <10...... -- ... ·.1J'robllblc SYIIIJltOlllS.. .i ~ No. l1SL.1 M8 Juno 20, 19:1Of ..... do...... ·..... ll0...... 50 1<'oxboro,JI.fnss.,Julr.1II28.t Sid,...... , No.1l99 .. l 622 JuJ~'7.1930 ·..... do...... do."...... r.o ...... <10...... :..... 110...... ; t:d No. 1159"j 6CO Jull' 12.1!l30 ...... 110...... ·..... <10...... SO ,.• thlhcrs!.. ;>'1Ilss.• July. 1928.i· .... do ...... "'1 ' aout~. • i I 0 I ~.,. , 8 No.H... 51 Supt. o.1028 ..... tlo ...... do...... 5 ,..... do...... ,'~k...... No.IS..... 57.5 Jllly 10.1930 ..... <10...... <10...... 50 Foxboro.1I1nss.• July.l028., .... KALMIA LATIFOLIA Sheep 1022 ,yas all old ewe in good condition at the time of the experiment and '1veighed110.5 pOllnds. At 1.38 p. m. on J 11ly 28, she ,vas given by balling gun 6:2.5 grams of dry leaves and flowers of K. latifolia. which had been collected at Lanham. Md. This was equivalent, On a green-plant basis, to 0.5 per cent of 'the weight of the animal. During the remainder of the day there "as no evidence of any effect produced by the Kalmia. Early in the moming of the next day the sheep was found to be very sick. The respiration ,,'as forced, short, and shallow, with a pause after each· breath. The !"heep was gratin)! her teeth. .At '/ "'Willa: 3.-SIJt:<'p to:!:!, poisoned Ill' mountain·laur,·I, ,tt So:!:! :to Ill. ~hOJw[ng dys[Jne'l and IlttUl:;{'tl a. m., she was lying down, very much depl'eS5ed, and refused to make any attempt to get on her feet. She was much salivated and was regurgitating bits of material from her stomach.. This matE'rinl was fonnd arotmd the pen, sllOwing that the animal had been re gurgitating £01' some time. At 7.15 a. m., an nttempt was made to put her on her feet, but she could not stand. ..\.. '/.:W a. m. her temp- ;~ Cl'utme was 101.4° F, pulse 50, and respiration 12. She was lying with her head extended forward anrl resting on the gronnd. At 8.22 a. m., she was standing, and her condition at the time is shown in Fif,'1.lre 3. At 8.25 a. m. the tempernture was 101.2°, pulse 56, respiration 12. The respiration. wa" Ia'Dored, the expiration being forced. The aL-imnl was distinctly nallsf:ated and immediately after wards attempb?d to vomit. There was a p:mse between the inspira tion ana expiration. At 8.'15 a. m., 5 ounces of raw lin5eed oil were administered. At 11.04 a. m., the t£>mperature was 103.8° ~ pulse 92, 8 TECHNICAl" BULLETIN 219, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE respiration 22. The pulse and respiration were both regular, but the latter was forced, with a pause between inspiration and e:lJ..-piration. At that time the sheep was standing but moved with un unsteady gait. The head was extended forward [mel was drooped. At 1.35 p. m., the temperature was 105.2, pulse 64, respiration 28. She was still standing and there was no distinct change in her condition. This condition continued during the ai'ternoon. At 3.15 p. m., she w'as given 5 ounces of !'ItW linseed oil. At 7 p. m., the sheep defecated very watery, foul-smelling feces. At 9.50 p. m., the temperature was 106.2°, pulse 92, respirn,tiol1 36. The respiration was still somewhat labored. but the animal was able to stand and even to walk about. July '30, at 6.30 a. m.! she was JOl1Ucl d('lld, lying on the left side. The body was still somewhat warm, so she had not been clead very long. The autopsy was begun at 8.05 a. Ill. and showed congestion in the fourth stomach, !~uocLenum, and ileulll. The kidneys also were congested. There was an excess of serum in the pleural cavity. No other abnormal conditions were found. 'l"Y1'lC.\L C.\SE or ('.\'["rLf] )140 Cattle 114:0 "'as a short Tearling steer in good condition at the time of the experiment, and weighed 385 pounds. J'une 19, 1928~ between 1.35 anel1.50 p. m., he ,YUS gin~n by balling gun 327.5 grams of dry, ground K. latifoliaJleaves, moistened with wuter. This dose was an equivalent of 0:75 per cent of the animal's weight, the plant being estimated on [L green-weight basis. That morning at 8.10 his temperuture was 101.4° F., pulse 60, respiration 16. No symp toms of the effect of the plant were noted until June 20. At 7.59 a. m.. June 20, the temperature was 99.6°, pulse 64, respiration 16. At 10.30 a. In., the feces were ob;:;el'ved to be soft i and in as-much as this condition was Ii common symptom in cattle poisoned by K. lai;ifolw, this was considered as the first symptom of the effect of the plant. At 11 a. m., tll\:! animal 'was forced to rise and seemed to have lost ptu·tial control of his hind legs, as he staggered when attempting to move about. but after a little walked more readily. At 3.25 p. m. he ,yas lying clown. and when made to get up moved about very Ilwkwardly, crossing his legs one OYer another, apparently through lack of control rather than simply from weakness. As in the morning, after he had been up for a short time, he "walked much more easily. The £(,('ps at this time were very liquid. At 4.27 p" m., the temperature was 102.3°, pulse 68, and respiration 32. The pulse was strong: aJ1cl regular, and the respiration was deep and somewhat labored. l\'[usculul' incool'uination WliS noticeable, as earlier in the day. At this time the:; stpt'J' hacl a. distinct diarrhea. lU 8.13 a. m. the following day, the temperature was 101.5° F., pulse 60, and l'espimtion lG. The pulse was hurd and rather jerky, but the rcspiration was cleep and regulul" His moycments were much like those of the preceding clay, but somewhat improved, and he was ruminating. At U3;) p. 111., hjs condition was about the same as at 8.13 u. m.. At 5.20 p. m., the temperatnre WtH, 102.;">1, pulse 64, :md respiration 20. The vu1s0 was somcwhat weak an Goat 2 was an old doe, weighing 95.5 pounds at the time of the experiment. She had received two former feedings of K. latifolia, one on August 5, of 0.4 per cent of her weight, which made her sick, and one on August 19, of 0.3 per cent of her weight. which had no distinct effect. On August 31, from 8.13 to 8.19 p. m:, she was given by balling gun 54 grams of dry leayes of K. latifolia moistened with water. This dose was equivalent to 0.5 per cent of animal weight of green plant. No symptoms were noted until 1.20 p. m., Septem ber 1. At that time considerable regurgitated material was founel lying about the pen in which she was confined. At 1.23 p. m'l she was down and regurgitating and showing distinct fiymptoms of nausea. At 1.21 p. m., the temperature was 102.8° F., pulse 84, respiration 1G. The pulse was weak, the respiration somewhat ir regular, the expiration being slightly forced. At 1.37 p. m., the goat was lying down and vomiting. She groaned with each expira tion. At 5.16 p. m'l her temperature was 102.6°, pulse 76, respira tion 28. The pulse "ms regular and the respiration irregular. The ~mimal haa. been salivating during the afternoon anel apparently was In some pam. September 2, s.aG a. Ill., the temperature was 100.n° F., pulse too weak to count, respiration 20 and irregulur. She was still salivating anel groaning as though in pain. This condition continued during the day. At 4.31 p. m., the temperature was 101.7°, pulse still too weak to COl~nt, and respiration 16. The next obseryation was made the following Inorning nt 8.25 a. 1l1. She had been vomiting dnring the night and green material was smeared around her mouth and nostrils. She was'snliyating twd weak. Breathing was stU) somewhat forced, an<1 pxpiration was accompanied frequently with n groan. At () n. m., ·when attempting to walk she sho·wed very marked weakness and unsteadiness of gait. At 4.20 p. m., the t('mperatllre was 101.:)° F., pulse G4, IUHl reflpiration 16. The pulse was regular, but weak, the respiration deep and irregular. The animal appeared to be somewhat better but was still very weak. At 5.45 p. m., she llttel1Lptec1 to eat the leaves of the service-berry bushes which had been thrown into the pen. This was the first time she hn(l ntt('rnptec1 to eat since receiving the J(. lnHlo7ia. 15144°-30-2 10 TECHNICAL BULLETIN 219, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE . September 4, at 8.24 a. m., the temperature was 100.8° F., pulse 64, and respiration 12. .At 4.36 p. m., the temperature was 100.2°, pulse 68, and respiration 20. The goat was much better and wus put in the hospital pasture, where she ate fairly well. On September 5, she was considered as practically recovered. KALMIA ANGUSTIFOLIA TYPICAL C"'S~J OF SHEEP 111 j Sheep 1117 was a yearling ewe, weighing 91 pounds at the time of the experiment. On July 16, at 4 :50 p. m., 51.6 grams of ground leaves of K. angu;stifolia. was placed in the feed box mixed with 226.8 grams of fo-1Touncl alfalfa hay. The animal ate the mixture yery , '. , ]"IlH:lm ~.·-:;h~"JI Jl1; poisulled hy slll'cplaul'cl at 1.10 p. Ill., showIII!;' altitude when , nttl'lUpt ing to grot up ~ eagerly. At (l.:j5 p. m., 25 01' 30 ~rams of the mixture remained in the feed box. This was placed in a pan and the sheep ate it all with the exception of 2 or 3 grams which wa" moistened and given in a balling gun. The total weight of the viant eaten, {'on~idl'red as green plilnt, was 0.5 per cent or the animal\; ,\"eight. July 17, at 6.15 u. m., she stood humped up and had vomited ,vas depressed, and weak in the le~s, althongh able to stand. In walkin~ she staggered, the weakness bein/! more pt'onol1ncecl in th~ hind legs. .At 6.30 a. 111., the pulse was 120 anel weak. At 9.30 a. m., the temperatme was 101 0 F., the pube 7:3, tmel the respiration 48 and l'e,!!l1lar. The pulse was 1'e,!!lIiar but somewhat weak. The sheep was still depressed, ,'cry weak, unahle to conI r01 the action or the h~gS, and was l'egul'gitatin.c,r. At lO.OS [t. m., the puisI' was 108, rat1wI' weak; tll(' ]'('spirntiorl "":1" :W, shnllo\\' and :iprky. I'4he grated hl'1' MOUNTAIN AND SHEEP LAURELS AS POISONOUS PLI...NTS 11 teeth and the ears di~ooped. At 1.10 p. m'j the temperature was 101.3" t the pulse 120, and the respiration 120. The pulse was regu Jar and fairly strong. The respiration was irregular. She grated her teeth and was unable to get upon her feet. In the attempts to get on her feet she threw herself about as shown in Figm'c 4. Figure 5 shows her attitude at 1.21 p. m. Until about the middle of the afternoon she was unable to stand. At that time she could get upon her feet but was very weak when she attempted to walk, and fell when urged to walk. Her condition was not materially changed during the rest of the day. At 5.54 p. m., her temperature was 103.7°, pulse 118, and respiration 52. The pulse was weak, and the respira tion jerky. ,July 18, at 8.40 ll. m., the tl'mperatlll'p was 102.3°, the pulse 119, and respiration 17. The pulse WitS weak andl'espiration irr£lgular. She was still Ycry much depressed and we:lk, was salivating. and there were indications of nnnsPa. During the rest of the dav her condition remained nnchnnged. At 5.16 p. m'l her temperntlU'e was 102.8°1 pulse l;j2, anc1respiratioll 20. On the following day at 8.40 a. m., the ewe's temperature ·wns 101.8°: pulse 1215. and respiration 21. The pulsc was weak and the respiration was l:egulal'. She ,,-as still much depressec1 bnt had been ca.tmg. At 4.51 p. m., the temperntul'e ,ms 102.5°, the pulsc 114, and the respiration 34. The puls(~ was still wea.k. but the general imli cittions were of marked impron'ment. ' July 20, at 8.35 n. m., thc tempcrature was 101°, the pulse 81, ami the respiration 23. The animal at this time WitS cOllsidered as GOl1l. plctely recovered. No otl1cr symptoms were noted, except that dur mg the day the respiration was il'regular and jl'l'ky. TECHNICAI. BULLETIN 219, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE DISCUSSION AND GENERAL CONCLUSIONS SYMPTOMS K.\L~IIA LATIFOLIA The symptoms noted in the sheep poisoned by mountain-laurel were depression, wealmess shown in a staggering gait, and sometimes prostration, salivation, nausea accompanied by vomiting, irregular and sometimes forced respiration. The picture of sheep 1022 (fig. 3) FOhows the ani111[11 at a time ·when it was weak, nauseatell, and the breathing labored. Sometimes the sheep would grate its teeth. IVhile occtlsionally changes ill temperature and pulse rate were noted, none of them were characteristic. The symptoms in goats were like those in sheep. One of the cattl KAL~llA ANGUS'ru'obl.\. In general the symptoms of sheep poisoned by sheep laup~l~were like thol"e affected by mountain-laurel. ·While the pulse I'$'ef~nS in the K. latilolia cases, was not characteristic, in a number of the animals the pulse was noticeably ·weak. The picture of sheep'l117 (figs. 4: and 5) shows the attitude of an animal in which muscular wealmess was especially pronounced. ' In the goats, the symptoms were like those of the sheep; the yomiting was very profuse; Fig. 6 shows No. 11 when attempting to vomit. The cattle had the same symptoms as those poisonec1 by K. Zatl. folia,' three of the four cases exhibited soft feces. Five of the cattle vomited, and two were salivating. ~ In genet'lll the symptoms produced by the two plants were almost identical. This, of course, would be expected, as both contain thc same poisonous principle, andromedotoxin. The symptoms from the experimental feedings correspOlHl to those described by pre ceding authors. MICROSCOPIC CHANGES IN ANIMAL TISSUES Only one animal, sheep 1022, died as a rcsult 0-1' the experimental feeding. An examination of the tissues of this animal gave the Tollowing results: The most important and apparently the primary injury was in the kidneys. Very severe acute parenchymatous nephritis affecting aU the tubules had led to necrobiotic changes in some tubules and complete bl'eaking down of others, with a pronounced disarrange ment of the epithelial cells. These changes were accompaniecl with a severe congestion, edema, some hemorrhage, and pronounced degenerative changes in the blood. In the most severely injured areas, plasma cells and lymphocytes were abundant. The most pronounced chang-es were ill the convoluted tubules. The liver cells were swollen, and some albuminous degeneration was present. This, however, was by no llleans so severe ns the lvIOUNTAIN AND SHEEP LAURELS AS POISONOUS PLANTS 13 injury to the kidney cells. There was considerably more blood in the pancreas and spleen than normal, probably secondary to the conditions in the liver. Some areas in the lungs were congested, the congestion being ac companied ,vith severe, pulmonary edellLa and an invasion of the tis sues by polymorphonuc.lear leuco~ytes. This condition apparently centered arOlmd certam brollclu and was probably caused by regurgitated material (h·a,yn into the lungs. ' ..... While there was a mild congestion of the wall of the abomasum and the 10,ve1' ileulll: which was accompanied in the abomasum PIG'CIlE O,-GOtlt 1i poitiQn~ll ul- sheep Inurel, showing na usea "-1th slight outwandering of leucocytes, this condition was of doubtful importance. The renal and posterior mediastinal lymph glands showed the effects of some irritation, Thl'se effects were not very severe and were IJrobabIy secondary to the injuries found in the kidneys nnd lungs. VerY similar conditions have been fOllnd in the tissues of animals poisoned by some other closely relrtted plants. TOXIC AND LETHAL DOSAGE KALJlIL\ LATlFOLIA R.eference to Table 1 shows that the ffiUllffium. toxic dose of K. latifolia for cattle was 0.4 per cent of animal weight, but 0.3 per- eent in one case produced no effect. The minimum toxic dose. TECHNICAL BULLETIN 219, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE for goats "asOA per cent; 0.3 per cent producing no effect. The minimum toxic dose for sheep' was 0.35 per cent, 0.3 per cent pro- . ducing no effect. Sheep 1022 was killed by 0.5 per cent. As sheep 1018, which received 0.6, was only sick, 0.5 per cent is the probable minimum lethal dose. The lethal dose was not determined for goats and cattle; goat 17 recover.ad from a feeding of 0.6 per cent. Cattle were fed as"high as 0.9 per cent of their weIght and were only sick. The lethal dose for cattle is evidently considerably higher than that lor sheep and goats. Cittt1e, goats, and sheep are about equally susceptible to the effect of the plant so far as poisoning is concerned, but goats and sheep are more likely to succumb than are cattle. KALML\' ANGUSTIFOLIA From Table 2 it appears that the minimum toxic dose of K. a-Uf!1i;8tifolid! for sheep was 0.1.5 per cent of animal weight, as found in sheep 1063 and 1103. Sheep 1077 received 0.15 per cent and sheep 1091 0.2 per cent without effect. The lethal dose was not determined: but it must be something over 1.2 per cent, as sheep 1130 received that quantity !lnd recovered. A goat was made sick on 0.25 pel' cent. There were seven feedings of cattle, the minimum effective dosage being 0.2 per cent. The largest dose given to cattle was 0.8 per cent, wl1ich only made the animal sick. So far as these experiments go there is nothing to indicate any marked difference in toxicity of the plant for cattle, sheep, or goats. .A considerable number of feedings with sheep (16 with K. lati folia, and 32 with K. anflU8tifoU,m) makes it possible to draw infer ences in regard to. the comparative t01l.icity of the two plants. The experiments with cattle and goats were too few for such a comparison) although goats are probably affected much like sheep. Since the minimum toxic dose of K. latifolia, for sheep I;; 0.35 per cent and [{. a.1tgu.stifolia 0.15 per cent, it seems clear that K. an[J'l.&sti lolia; is decidedly the m.ore toxic. Howcvcr, it is much less likely to cause death, as is shown by the fact that 1.2 per cent of [{. august-llolia failed to be fatal, although 0,;5 per cent of K. latifolia was lethal. Preceding puLlished information in regard to dosage of domestic animals is very slight. Crawford (10) in 1908 gaye details of feed ings of dry leaves of [{. latifolia to three shet'p of which the weight was given. Thcse fcedings wel'e of dry, powdel'pdleaves. Rt'ducing 11is data to percentages of animal "wcight of gl'l'en material, he had the following result:;: One sheep, rcceiving 0.506 per cent of its 1yeight, was poisoned and recovered; onc sl1l'cp, receiving 1.508 pel' cent of its weight, was poisoned and died; one sheep, receiving 1.469 per cent of its weight, was poisoned and died. His toxic dose was comparable with the results at the Salina. station a~ one of the experimental sheep there received 0,6 1)('1' cent of its weight withOllt 1\IOUN,TAIN AND SHEEP L-\URELS AS POISONOUS PLANTS 15 a fatal result. Evidently his lethal doses were largcl" than the quantity necessary to produce death. Thomas (19) in 1802 poisoned dogs with decoctions and tinctures of the plant, but as he did not mention the size of the dogs) or whether the leaves were green or dry. this dosage can not be com pared with others. Observutions madc by Thomas on the effect of both K. ang·ustifolia und K. latifolia on man indicated that 6 grains (0.4 gram) of green leave~ was toxic. The only other ~tatement published in regard to the dosage of K. angu8tifolia. is b~r 'Wood (91). ill 1883. He made a· decoction of 1 pouml of leaves Hnd fruit boiled down to one-hillf pint. Six and one-half OUl)('eS of this decoction 'was gi,en to a sheep. weighing 23 pounds. This dose. the equivalent of 3,48 per cent of the animal's weight. made the animal sick but did not result in deuth. In com parison with til(' experiments tit the Salina Experiment Station it was an extremely heavy dose and should have caused deuth. It Eeems possible that the method of preparatioll ma~T ha,'e lessened the toxic properties of the plant. TIME FROM FEEDING TO APPEARANCE OF SYMPTOMS The average time fl'om the feeding of mountain-laurel to the development of s~rmptoms was: F01' ('attle. 16 hours and 50 minutes; for goat~~ 16 hOllrs and 47 minutes; and fol' sheep: 14 hours and 44 minutes. ~rost of the experimental feedings wen' mallc in the eyelling.and the first symptom~ were notfd at the eurl.,' morning obsernltion, no obsenations being made during th!:' night. '1'herl'fol'(' it is probable that the actual time elapsing before symptoms appea rl'd w:tS shorter than that found in the averages. This is illdicated in the fact that the minimum time for cattle was in tlw case of Xo. 1142 which was it'd at 9.10 a_ m., and symptol11.,<; appeared at +.32 p. m. Several sheep that developed s.vmptom;-; arc not listed in Table 3 as it seemed proper to ex('llllh' those animub which rpceiyed linse('d oil h!:'fore symptoms app('arl'd. TARLE :t-'l'illw from fced;II!! Itll/m;n lllfifo/ill to derclop/Ilcuf Of SlllllpfOIll.y .\nim.'ll Ilours ~[inuh"; \l'il!l:ll flours ~nnutr·S Cattle: Xo.IH.I__ .. 19 21 Xo. llar•. I. 22 Xo.113ii•. 19 39 ~o.ll40.... , __ 13 15 No.Il4IL.... __ •__ . _ . 10 If. No. 1142. _... _ ..... 18 32 No. 1202...... 10 13 Goat: 9 18 No.2 (A\ll>, '" •.•.•. , 20 No.2 (.\ug. ~fl. .... 1 No. 17.• _...__ -. '"'' ..... 20 ------..---~ ---.... ~ ..-.--..------,..---- Ll the C:l1'1' of sheep hll1l'pj th(' aV('I'ag(' time for symptoms to rle "clop in cattle was 14 hours ::tIIrl S minlltes, and in sheep 10 hours and 40 min utes. 16 TECHNICAL BULLETIN n9, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICFLTURE As in the case of K~ latifolia., most of the feedings of ]{. aJtgwsti folia were made in the evening, 110 night observations being made. For cattle the minimnm time was in the case of 1151, which was fed from 11.23 to 11.30 :to m., and the symptoms were llot'ed at 4.56 p. m. For the sheep the shortest period was with No. 10G9. which was fed at 9.55 a. m. and showed symptoms at 4.43 p. m. Doubtless, if there had been continual obset"vatiom; in all cases of Kalmia feeding, the average time from feeding to symptoms woulu ha"e been shown to be somewhat shorter than Tables ;3 and 4 would inclicate. TABLB 4.-Ti11lf' froIll· fceding Eoll11';a· (/II.f1I/..~f.ifoli(J, til (/('('('/O/lIII('l1t IIf sumptOIllS . . I . I Anhllul IHours ?Iinutes I Animal !Hour; IMinutes -~ .. ---I • --,--- Cattle: : Sbe~p-ConUnlled : No. 1151 (July 20) ...... __ Ii 201 No. J()jj9...... 6 48 No. 1150...... J:I 3 No. 10.·1...... __ •••.••••• 25 No. 1155••••_...... "'''''''' 14 50 No. 1073...... ' __ ""'"'' 3i No. 1151 (Sept. 11) ...... 15 fi.l.. No. 108., ("C(lt. 10) ••••.••.••. ~110 5 No. 1187.....__ ...... HI 10 No. 10'.19...... __ 15 No. 1199...... 20 50 No.IIOl••_...... __ ••••••.• I~ I 25 No. 1159...... 9 ~O No.lIm...... __ ...... 10 : 6 Goat: No. 1110..._...... __ ...... 45 No. 11-._...... 11 8 No. 1112...... __ • __ ...... __ __ gI ;18 No. 15._••••••••____ ...... ' S 20 No. 1117 ...... __ ...... 12 i 20 Sheep: No. 112(1...... __ •• __ ... 10' 26 No. 1090._...... __ • IS 5.j No. 1121..._.....__ .....__ ••. 40 No. 1092.•.•__ •••__ ...... 12 50 No. 1125...._...... __ H. I Ii No. 10'J3...... 10 20 No. 1127•••••••___ ...._____ .. 54 No. 10113 (Aug. 5) ...... 9 G No. 1138..__ • __ ._••.• ___ ..... 5 No.1~9...... __ ...... S :18 No.ll~6...•••••••__ ...... 20 No. 1060...... S No. HOi•.__ ...... __ .•••• iI 50 No. 1064.__...... _...... ___ . 9 No. 1124 •••••••••••••_...... 8, 39 No.lOm...... __ . J2 131~ I No. 11:10...__ • __ ..." ...... 'r III 12 In c:omparing the effects of the two plants it appears, so fl),r as these figures ,lre concerned, that in the three classes of animals used, cattle, sheep, and goats, symptoms were developed somewhat more quickly with K. Mlgustifobia. This is what would be expected from the fact that, as shown un p. 14, K. (J;ngustifolia is somewhat more toxic. The only l)l'eceding data in regard to the time of development of symptoms are in the ]la.peTS of Crawford (10) and Thomas (19). Of the three sheep poisoned by K. latifo7ia" rep~ll'ted by Crawford one be'.cnme sick in 45 minutes. one in 1 hOllr anc1 30 minutrs, and the third in ]4 hollI's aIHl 40 minutes. Thomas. .in his experiments 011 dogs, found that fiY(' of tllP dogs poisonecl by [(. latifoli,(b showed Hymptoms imnH·diatc?ly. thn'p in a few minutes, and the bthers in 30 seconds, 3 minutes. lUJ(l 6 minutes. respectjvel~r. DURATION OF SICKNESS Tables;) and 0 :for th(' dUl'ation of sickn('ss give the time from the first symptom to the last. llH r('corcled in the experimental note~. As :-,tated before. it is pl'ObabI(' that man;' of til(' animals 'were some what siele befol'l' the ob!'c'lTatious wer(' ma(le, and it is also h'ue that Lhe actual periocl of illlwss may h:1\'(' ('xtrllde TARLE 5.-Dw·otion of sickness ·in ca.,ttle, goa.ts, ol1(l sheep in ea,~e8 of Ka,lmia la.titolia. ]Joi.~onj,I!!' Anitnnl iHourS IMinutes Animal Hours Mlnut.·s -c-a-tk-lcO-•• -1l-4-3.-••-.-•. ~, ••' __ ' ..]--0f -- -5-511-G-O-Il-.~-O-:2-on-(,t-i~-I~-.e3-(\-').-.-..-.-•.-,-.,-.•-..1'-~'--16 No. 1136 1• __ •••.• ..• . .•--1--...... 1.-.••.. -. No.H_....' •. ,._._...__ • __ •. S 40 Xo. 1135••_..__ -- ... ---' --, 24 1 20 Sheep: No.1140...... ,.....' . ,I 41; 14 No.lOIS...____ . __ ..... , __ . 25 13 No. 1146...... : 20: 18 I No. 1028•••. __ ...... __ I JO NO.ll42...... , ••.••__ •. 1 2j) ! 2i No. 1029•••__ ..... __ ...... 2 15 , N.O.l20Z...__ ...... __ Ill: 15 I No. 1034...... J2 30 hoat: I No. 944 1_ ...... " .. --'"'' ...... Xo. 2 (A~~. 5)··=:.::.~=·~·l~L, 8 I No. 100i I...~...... ·····r ..·.. l..••....• lOne oh$"n·ation. In cases of poisoning by K. latifolia, the maximllm duration of SiChJlCSS in cattle was 46 hours and 14 minutes; in goats, 75 hours and 16 minutes; and in sheep, 25 hours and 13 minutes. The n.verage duration of sickness in rattle was 19 hours ancl47 minutes, :wd of the ~heep 6 hours and 51 minutes. In cases of poisoning by K. allgustijolia, the. maximulll period of illlles~ in cattle wag i'2 hours and in the sheep 122 hoUl's and 5 minutes. The average duration of sickness for cattle was 2R hours and 44 minutes, for sheep 40 hours and ii'2 minutes, illlclfor goats 22 hours and 3i) minutes. It is not thought that an~' especial significance attaches to the differences in period betwel.'n cattlE' and sheep 011 account of poisoning causecl by either plnnt. '1'.\Ur.E 1i.-f)uraUolI of .~ickn('.~.~ in cntllc, !IOllt,~, (IneZ ,~1tcc[J in ('(/,8e8 of Illl-ZllIill allUIIRlifolill fI"i.wllill!1 .. --~--..------'------:------.-!..... '"-- -~ --".,..~,-.------~~ ____ .\:~!lnl"'''___'__1.1 [Ollrs :=~"t(:~ \. ', .. __~~.~. ".~ InOllr:.I~~illutes Cattle: . "11l'eJl-·Continu~d. ~o.ll51 (July201 . 1'> 30 No.lOr.p.•__ ...... I ~o.l15{'-"" .. _~.. :l0. :15 N'o.10H!L'c •... :,uT"--'--ir, No.11M...... ,W' 45 No.lOi4...... , 2 2h No. 11.,1 (';cpt. 11 , . ., 25 X o. \On...... 2 : ~i5 No.1]S'. 2 "•.'0 No. 105:\ ("ept. IU). ! ·1Il r fit No. Jl!J1l. ". . 2 32 No. 1093. 9 t :14 No.1l5V... . 72 0 No. UOL .... 59 • 42 GOIW No.1 10:1.-. '" :1a\ 50 No.IL...... :l,I:H No.IUO., ..... 3·1 j 40 No.15...d' 10:;; No. 1.112..... I 7·. . 2 Sheep: No. Illi.... 50 t 25 No. 1090...... 4:Jt) No. 1120... 32 0; No. 1092...... 2.1;JO No. 1121. . 53 20 No. 1093...... 2n 3 No. UZi.... J 26 0 No.lll'J.!...._ . 32 24 No.1l3!L. 120 ·IS No.lWS...... H 0 No. 11411. 7·1 (J No. 1083 (A ug-. m 1:17 40 No. 11Oi. :1 82 27 No. 1(J.l9••", , .1:1-1 211 No.JJ24•. 122 [, No. lor.!..... g . 15 'No. [130...... 82 :t'l ~o.l064...... 2 J,) 1 One ohs~rVlltfoll. Comparillg the I.'ffects of the two plants, it seems apparent thnt f{. angustifoli(t produces n. Romewhat Il10l'e prolongcd sickness. 1Vhen a comptu'isOIl is made between the size of thE' dose ancl the length of illness, it is found, as may bl' (·xpl.'ded, that with some exceptions there is a distinet ('olTclntion; that is, the larger doses generally speaking produced more prolongc(l inness. 18 TECHNICAL BlJLLETIX 219, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTUlm . Crawford (lO) l in 1908, gave datn of duration of illness in thl'el' ~" sheep poisoned by ll. latlfolia.; two of them died, one in ~ hours and 6 minutes, and the. other in 7 houl's and 15 minutes; the thil'cl nnilllal recoveretl in 83 hOllrs and 15 minutes. REMEDIES l\fany remedies hUTl' been suggested for poisoning by Kalm·ia lat·ifoZia, sOlHe of which are rather fanciful. .As in pmcticlll1y aU cases of plant poisoning, llumy fanners belien' in bleeding. The authors have known of many using linseed oil with bl'neficin.l results. Thomas (19), in 1802, found that if lard "oas mixed with the lam'l'l the toxic symptoms 'were lessened. Rafinesque (17, 'IJ. g, p. 17), in 18aO, said: "Sheep, if not 200n relieved by oil, will swell and die." Gre1mell, Bushnell. llnd Knox (12), in 1861, recommended a. (lrench of milk and Cllstor oil with pellets of llLrd. Crttwford (10), in 1908, suggested lard and a purgative like Epsom SItU; he also recommended apomorphine hyclrochlorate to induce yomiting. In the National Stockman and Farm('i", in 1922 (1) :1 writer considered the best remedy to be sweet milk nnl) f)xercise. Mrs. Belle Miller of Columbia, S. C., in correspondepce has reported good results froll1. the use of mineral oil. The earliest reference to the, use of: oil or grease as It remeuy wns by Colden (9), in 1749, whose account may be translated as follows: ., A ball of butter of suitable size thrust into the throat, if given at the right time, is tt quick remedy for r;heep, as I have proyed." "Thile the authors, from the literature on the subjt'ct, and their own experience, felt confident that the administration of grease or :tn oil could be expeG~d to aid poisoned :tnimnh; in recovery, it seemed wise to try sOlBe definite experiments to test it. Sheep 1022, which died from the effects of [{. 7((tifoZia, received a single dose of 120 ('. t. of linseed oil, which evidently was not effccti,re. Later, six of the experimental sheep, Nos. ~946, lOaS, 1027, 1021, 1008, and 1000, were given [{. latifoTia in doses from 0.6 to 0.8 per cent of their weights. The qnantities ginn were large! than the lethal dose of 0.:3 per cent. r~inseed oil was given to aU these animals in It drench. In the case of sheep Nos. 1038, 946, 100S. :md 1027 the admini!ih'atioll of oil wns {,OIh!nelleed immediately after th~ feeding of the plant. 'Vith No. 1000 it was commenced about 23 hours after the feedi ng and with 1021, 10% hours after; both of these animals exhibited symptoms before the oil was given. The dosage of oil was l'epeatecl at intl'rvnls varying :fl'om approximately one to three hoUl·s. The total quantity of. oil giyen to an animal varied from 300 to 600 e. (~. Three received 300 c. c., one a60 c. c., one 390 c. C., and one 600 c. c. Refcrt!nce to Table 1 shows thnt two animals were sick, one somewhat sick, one showecl HymptOll1f;, and two were not nffected at al'l. In as much as all l'eeeived doses of the plllnt which might have been flltHI, the experiment seems to be sufficient to pro"e the beneficial effect of administering linseed oiL Probably in the ease of 1022, the dosage of oil was too smull to prevent death. As to the l\WUNTAIN AND SHEEP LAURELS AS POISONOUS PLANTS 19 qua.ntity of oil which should be given perhaps a desirable dosage would be 4 fluid ounces (120 c. c.), repeat('d at interval's of two or three hours. While there ha:; been no experimental work with l'emcdie:; for poisoning by slwep laureL oil doubtless would be equally effective ''lith this plant. . ANIMALS AFFECTED BY THE PLANTS The publislH,d statements about animals poisoned by K. latifo7ia IUld K. angustifolia are largely in relation to cattle and sheep and the more importlLnt losses have been of these animals. Goats are readily poisoned by both plants, nlthough there is no preceding pUblication stating that they are poisoned by K. angustifolia. Chesnut (0), in 1898, was the first to mention that goats nre poiRoned by K. latifolia; in fact, Castiglioni (4): in 1790~ stated that goats eat it with no harm. Probably the reason that the poisoning of goats by these plants was not mentioned eudie!' is that complu'lltiwly few goats have been kept in the regions where the plants grow. Kahn (15. '/). 1, p. 835-40). in 1770, stilted that hor:-.;es as well aR sheep and cattle are poisoned by K. latifolia. Hal·ton (~) in 1802 made asimiIar statement and added that many of General nraddoc'k's horses wer(' destroyed by euting the leaves and the tWi!,"S of this shruh, in the month 01' June, 17;Jij, a j'cw days hefol'e this unfortullate Gf'nernl's !lefl'at ;lnd tlenth. Later authors m('ntion that horRes lIlay be poisoned, but 110 specific cases have been reported, and it seems probable that. while horses lIlay be poisoned. the plant should Hot be ('oI1Ridel'p(l llR partieularly. dangerons to thcm. No experilllcnts of feeding the plants to horses t have been Jlwde. As pl'c\'iollsly Hlcntioned experimental reRliI'tB have shown thut man may be poisoned by both K. anyu8tifoUa, a1ld K. latifolia.. Kalm (15), in 1770, stated that deer are !lot affected by K. lat1 fouia, !Lnd this statement has been repeatecl by some later authors. The belief doubtless arOfie frol11 tIll' rtlct that no, deer were round th:lt pPli'iullIably di('d from eating the plant. Recently K B. Forbes, direC'tor of the Institute of Animal X1ltri tion, and ;So r. H!'c:hdel, j)J'ofessor of dairy researeh of the Pennsyl vania. State College, in coop('nttion with the P(·nnsylvllIlia Board of Gu-me Commis!';ion('rs and in conslIltatiol1 with the Fnited States Burean of Biological SIU'Yey. ha\'e been carryintl' on some experi ments in the feeding of mountain-luul'('l llI1(1 dlO(looelldron to deer. In the. last few years many with no experimental evidence. From the fact that doves have been poisoned by andromedotoxin and the lethal dose determined, it seems probable that birds may be susceptible to the effect of the plant. Cats, dogs, mice, and rabbits hare also been poisoned experimentally by andromedotoxin. 1Vhile from the practical standpoint of the farmer the danger from these plants has been mostly with cattle 'and sheep, losses of goats, fully as great, may be expected if they are kept in uny con siderable numbers ill the regions where the laurels grow. CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH PUISONING OCCURS While it is evident that Ii". lati/olia an POISONING BY FLESH OF ANIMALS WHICH HAVE EATEN KALMIA Kahn (15) said that dogs were made sick by eating the cntrail<; of deer which had been feeding 011 [{. Zatifolia. It has been reported that persons 1un'e been poisoned through eatin~ the flesh of pheas ants and pal'tl'idges that had fed on Kalmitt. Chefinut (0), in 1898, experimenting with andromedotoxin, gaVl' to a chicken doses which, from experiJl1('nts ill otlH'l' animals. might be expected to be fatal. The chickpll showNl no effeds: it 'was then killed, the entrails re moved, and the flesh boiled. The flesh was fed to two kittens, both of whieb \)('eanl(' wry sielc 'fhiii experiment would Heem to eonfirm the bel.ief expn.·ss(·d by others that birds al'e not readily poisoned by these plants, bllt that their flesh may beeome poisonous to sus ceptihle animals. SUMMARY [{. latifoNa nnt! [{. ang'ltstifolia, plants growing abundantly in th(' eastern part of the United States, ha\Te be(1) l'l'eognizeo lIS being poisonoufi to livestock since the middle of the eighteenth century, the first detailed c1eseription of their efleets having been published in 1770. The animals most affected are cattle~ sheep, and goats, Horses are said to have been poisoned. Both men and monkeys may be l)oisoned. MOUNTAlN A.1.~D SHEEP LAtffiELS AS POISO:N"OUS PLANTS 21 There is no definite evidence that wild animals are ever poisonecl from grazing 011 these plants, although deer are susceptible to heavy forced feedings of mountain-laurel. The actual losses are mainly of cattle, sheep, and goats; for those animals the effective dosage, the time for development of symptoms, and the duration of sickness have been determined. Methods of avoiding losses are indicated and it is shown that oil or grease is an effective remedy in treating pOl!"oDecl animals. LITERATURE CITED (1) ANONY~rOt:S. 1922. LAUREL POISONING. Xlltl. Htoc'kmall and ParmE'r 46 (7): 11. (2) BARTON, B. S. 1802. smrE "~CCOUNT OF 'l'ln: POISONOUS .\",11 JNJ"L""RW::S HONEY' OF NORTH A~[ERr('"\. Amer. Phil. Hoc. Trllm;. i): :)1.-70. (3) BIGELow • .T. 1817. ~~~I1~rU:C.\X ~[EDTC.\L BOTANY, m~NG .\ (,OLLECTIOX OF THE XNITYE :?IRnICAT. PLANTS OF THE U~ITED STATES. ;~ Y. in one. Philadelphia. (4) CASTIGUONI, L. 1790. VIAGGIO ):!;;G1.l S'1'.\Tl t':-;l'n DELI: A~[EInl'.\ :-;F.Tlt.'X'rRtOZ' nTI ltAFIXESQt"fJ, ('. :-i. 1828--30. )JlWICAT, l?l~OnA; 011, ~UXCH. Ok' 'I'HF; .\n;I)[('.\L 1I0T.\.NY OF 'I'HE; trXI1'f;U S1'Nn:1; OF XOII'l'l{ ,D[~:HlC',\ ••• ~ Y., illm;. Philnde1llhiu. (18 ) X)[lTll, ;r. I02·l, m:xy.II.\I. IlI:-l,[,ORlfl OF YIIWIXIA. (Captain .Tolin Nmith'l-' '''ork~, edited hy EclwfI!'c1 Arher. {J84 p. Birmingham. 1884.) ( If)) 1.'110)1.\$, G. U. lti02..\N I:-i.\t'Gt'lI.\t. IJISSI:!iI'I'.VfW:-;' Ox 'J'In; KAI.:'.lfA LA'l'H'OLIA .\XL) ANGt'l-'l'IFOf.l.\. l'hil:ldel\lhin. (20) "'U\ECOFF. TRO~. E. 1980. l'UI~ J>1·:·XXSYl.\'AX~.\ UE!W PI\oBLI;;~r. Bul. 12. 1:oard oj' Game L'oHimissiOIlPl'l', ('Ollllllllllwrtllth of PE'llIlsyIVlllJill, ITHITishurg. ~21) 'Yoou. 'I.'. F, l~S:3. IS SlIF:gl' I..\l'ltF::L I'OJ:-loxm':-l 1'0 SIU:F;I": AIllE-I'.•\gr. 42: eG. ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE WHEN THIS PUBLICATION WAS LAST PRINTED ,secretary of Agrie·ult'llre__ .______AllTHL'1!)1. HYDE. A.~8i8ta,llt Secretary______H. W. Dm'LAP. Director Of SCielltific 1rorh;___ ~_ .. ______.L F. WOODS. Director of RegltlMory Work.___ •. ______"-. G. C.\lIPHEl.L. DirectoJ' Of E.:ctC1!.8ion. TVotk______C. ·W. 1V"\RBL'1!TOX. Director of Pel'80nnel alld BII.~ill("~N .J.tlllli//r "-. ",,'. RTOCKUEllGER. i8tra,tiOIl. Directar Of InforlllutimL ______• ______~1. S. EISE::-;HOW~:n. Solicitor______.. ______~. ______.__ ... ___ E. L. )lAnsHALL. II-cather Bureau______. CHARLES F. :\L\RVIX. (,hkt. Bureau of Llllilllal Iltdll.~tr[l------.------_. ,Tons H. MOIllE,n, C'lIirf. Bu/,ealt ot ))d{ry Illdll.y/ry______. O. E. HEED, Chic(. BW' BUl'calt of Che1ni.~tl'1J and ,..,f)ilH______II. G. KXIGHT, Chief. BIlI·ca/{. of Ento/llology______. _____ C. L. :.\L\nL"\TT, Chief. lJW'('(L/l of Biolof/i('a[ SUITl'II______., P.\('r. G. UEOTXGTOX, Chief. Bltrea.ll. ot Publit' ROllll.L___ .______TnO~I"\i::l H. )L-\cDmur.n. ('hiet, Burea·u. at .d.griellltllrcLl Eeoll(JiIIilw ______:'\n.H A. OLSEX, Chief. BI/reau. Of Home EeoJlomics______I"Ol'lHE: ~l'_-\XLEY, ChiN. Plirnt Qlwrant;llc (/II(Z Control A.dmilli!ilratiolL.. LEE A. STROSG. ChiC'{. (}rain. P.utlll'r'.~ .lrZ/ILini.~tration______.T. ",,'. T. DFI'El.. Chief. Fooil and Drllg .lrlmirLi.Hratir))L______"-'u.TEIl G. l'A~IPBEl.r., Din'c/o)' 01 Rr!Jlllatory 11'0'1'1.:. ill ('ltarge. Office of E.:cLJrrilllellt St(ltion.~ ______----. Chief. Office ot CooP(')'(ltiu(' E.I'lf"MiOlb 'Work___ C. B. R;\uTff, ClIicf. L-ibrary______('I.ARlBEL R, BAltx~;r-r, Librariall. Thh hulh'tin j~ a "lIl1tlihution f]'om fill/TaIl at AnimaZ Il/dll.~lrl/_ .. ..._.- .Jron:-.: R. )[om.Eft. (,hi('f. Patllfl[oOical DiL·jsioll______. ______JOH;"\ ~. Bnlo.F.y. ('/tief. :!;l