=Dodders= (_Cuscuta_ sp.), when parasitic on clovers and fed as fodder
or hay, have been suspected of causing digestive troubles in horses and
cattle in the United States. Müller records a case of poisoning of young
pigs by _C. europæa_, with inflammation of the intestines and nervous
symptoms. Barbey determined the presence of the glucoside _Cuscutin_ in
_C. Epithymum_.
=Viper’s Bugloss= (_Echium vulgare_ L.) is suspected of being poisonous;
according to Friedberger and Fröhner it causes slavering (see also
_Cynoglossum_).
=Hound’s Tongue= (_Cynoglossum officinale_ L.). To what extent this
plant is actually poisonous is not clear, but with some other members of
the order (_Echium vulgare_, _Anchusa officinalis_), it contains the two
alkaloids _Consolidine_ and _Cynoglossine_—the former of which paralyses
the central nervous system and the latter the peripheral nerves.
(Greimer, 1900: _vide_ Henry).
According to Hooker, Hound’s Tongue is narcotic and astringent, and
Smith includes it as a simple vegetable irritant, causing nausea and
purging. No records of actual poisoning of animals have been found.
=Broom-rape= (_Orobanche minor_ Sutt.) has been suspected, and according
to Boitel is liable to cause violent colic when it occurs in
considerable proportion in clover and is ingested with it (73). On the
other hand, in a case noted by Stapledon, in which Broom-rape (_O.
minor_) had completely overrun the aftermath on a farm near Fishguard,
two-year-old cattle devoured the plant with apparent relish and cleared
off most of it in a few days after being turned in. The farmer stated
that he saw no trace of colic or other ill effects. (_Jour. Bd. Agric._,
September, 1916.)
=Great Mullein= (_Verbascum Thapsus_ L.). Though it does not appear to
be touched by farm live-stock the Great Mullein must be mentioned here.
The leaves and flowers have been used medicinally as an emollient and
pectoral, while the seeds possess narcotic properties and serve to
stupefy fish (73). Pammel states that the plant causes irritation, but
is probably not very poisonous to stock.
=Toadflax= (_Linaria vulgaris_ Mill.). Cornevin describes Toadflax as
acrid and poisonous, but says that stock reject it, and he could record
no accidents to animals. In his full and excellent account of this weed,
Kraus says it is regarded as poisonous, or suspected of being so, but
that according to most accounts it is not harmful to cattle (168).
Leunis regards it as suspicious on account of its acridity. Some German
authorities say it is willingly eaten by cattle, but it is generally
believed to be avoided, and owing to its disagreeable odour and acrid
taste this view is probably correct. The plant has not been exhaustively
studied, and while Smith gives the toxic principle as _Oil of
Snapdragon_ and the resin _Gratiolin_, it may be observed that Toadflax
contains the glucoside _Linarin_ (C_{64}H_{56}O_{40}).
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