The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1911-06-01
POISONOUS PLANT IN THE HAY.
Causes Death of Horses in Harmony
Section-The Plant and Its Dan
gers Described by Botanist {. w.
Hyams.
Or. OF The Landmark. !

Cor. Of The Landmark.
The writer was called in consulta-
ton with DR.. w. NJ. Nicholson last
Monday to ascertain, II possible, the
cause of the death of several horses
in the Harmony section of north Ire
dell, and after making a careful ex-
animation Of the hay and other feed
which had been given the animals. to-
gether with the dead carcasses. locat-
ed the cause without trouble. l found
quite a large amount OF the dried
stems and leaves of cicuta maculata.
Or water hemlock, in the hay and
knowing this plant to be a danger
Gus narcotic poison, had no difficulty
in arriving at the conclusion that 1t
was the only and direct cause of
death.
The symptoms produced by it's use
either in the human or animal system
are thirst, dryness of the throat, dir
illness, constipation, Inflammation of
mucous membranes and intestines,
sickness at stomach, vomiting, sink
ing, benumbing feelings, more or less
prostration of the muscular system,
dilation of the pupils of the eyes,
trembling Of the muscles, spasms, fol-
lowed by death, often accompanied
by great suffering and agony. The
entire inner surface Of the body be-
comes intensely infiamed, blood clots
form on the brain and persons unac-.
quainted with the administration of
effects of this drug often mistakes the
. cause and assume that the patient Is
suffering from apoplexy.
l found thousands of plants of this
dangerous weed growing in the mead
, ows, and for the information of those
| who may not know the plant, | am
| giving a brief description of it and
will say that If any one has what
| they think is this plant growing in
; their meadows, l will be glad if they
will send or bring me a specimen of
it so that they may be enlightened
on the subject, free of charge. The
stem is large, hollow, purplish in
color, the leaflets are ovate-lauceo-
/ late, sharp-pointed, coarsely toothed
! or serrate, the umbels, or flower
stems are large, many-rayed like the
wires in an umbrella, the flowers are
white, grow in clusters, are small,
something like the wild carrot; the
fruit or seed is roundish in shape
flowers in July, grows in wet, marshy
places from Florida to Mississippi and
northward. The entire plant is very
poisonous and is what botanists call
a perennial, lasting from year to year
and grows from the seed or root
stalk. This plant is often mistaken
for angelica by the unsuspecting be-
cause it has a somewhat similar odor
and taste and the roots resembles
that of the angelica. Several deaths
are on record in this State where
people have died from eating this
root, thinking it was angelica. !
know of but one way to eradicate this
plant where it is found growing, and
that is, to pillow up the land and Guilt
vate it for number of years. In my
opinion it will only be a few years al
the most until every meadow in north
Iredell is infested with the plant and
it will be dangerous to feed hay to
stock from that section unless those
parties who now have this plant
, growing on their lands adopt the
above method of eradication or else
go into their meadows before the seed
, ripens and dig up each plant by the
root, which will be a job where it is
SO pientiful.-C. w. Hyams, in
: Statesville Landmark.
Z