RAGWORT POISONING

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 52, Issue 3756, 15 May 1936, Page 5

RAGWORT POISONING

CIRRHOSIS OF THE LIVER (By Dr. H. A. Reid, FR.C.V.S., in “Diseases of Farm Animals in New Zealand.”) For long the ragwort plant (Senecio Jacoboea) has been thought to be implicated in the production of this disease. Ragwort contains an active principle capable of producing a chronic inflamation of the liver of the horse and ox and less frequently by the sheep. The liver becomes hard and more or less functionless. One of Its chief properties, that of neutralising poisons elaborated in the large bowel, is lost and the symptoms of intoxication, jaundice, etc., are set up. Symptoms in Horses The earliest symptom is a general dullness, the normal activity becoming less, and the animal getting more and more sluggish in its movements. The appetite is depraved. Rubbish, such as leaves, soiled litter and weeds are freely partaken of. Gradually the animals’ movements become erratic. There is difficulty in walking, the horse swaying from side to side ot leaning with its head against the wall of the shed. There is a tendency to stamp with the hind feet, twitching of the muscles of the body, wide staring eyes, the mucaus lining of the eyelids being of a notable yellow colour. Constipation, weak pulse, a normal temperature and dark, foul smelling urine are also distinguishing features. As the symptoms progress, the effects upon the brain become more marked. They may suddenly become demented, break away through fences, rushing wildly about without the least regard for the injuries which may be received during these fits of excitement. Intoxication become gradually profound—the animal falls and is unable to rise, death following soon afterward®. Symptoms in Cattle Diminution of the milk supply, which has an acrid flavour, rendering It useless for butter-making, and a peculiar odour from the animal’s skin are among the first symptoms noticed In cattle. Affected animals rapidly lose condition, though the appetite may be maintained. Sometimes there is a complete failure of the appetite. Yellow colouration of the visible mucaus membranes (jaundice) and dropsy of the abdomen, are usually present. The gait is staggery as in the horse, and the animal often suffers from a persistent diarrhoea. With

store cows and those kept for breeding purposes the symptoms, such as diarrhoea and dropsy are not so acute, but the disease once noticeable, suymptoms develop, and runs a more rapidly fatal course, death occurring in from two to five days. Whereas dairy cows will linger on for ten days to a fortnight before the end comes. Symptoms in Sheep Sheep appear to possess a considerable immunity to poisoning by ragwort, though many deaths 'have been known to occur. Owing to the disease assuming a more chronic course in these animals, symptoms often pass unrecognised, the sheep being found dead, either on the ragwort pasture or sometimes after removal. Carcases of sheep dead from this complaint generally have a yellowish appearance. Sheep are not so nearly as susceptible to the effect of poison as other species, and do not show that aversion to eating the plant which is displayed particularly by horses, nevertheless, fatal cases may occur when ragwort is plentiful in the pasture. The changes set up in the liver appear to be progressive, in that animals removed from ragwort infested pastures seemingly in good health, may die some months afterwards from the effects of cirrhasis of the liver brought on by the Ingestion of the weed. Treatment and Prevention In advanced cases, when as the result of chronic inflamation of the organ, the liver, is grossly invaded by newly formed fibrous elements, no treatment is likely to prove efficacious. In earlier stages of the disease, however, strychnine has been found to possess almost a specific action. It may be administered to horses and cattle hypodemically at the discretion of a veterinarian, who alone should be entrusted to prescribe the drug in this form. Given in the crude form of powdered nux vomica, farmers may safely resort to its use in cases of this disease. The following powders may be given to horses morning and evening mixed in a little slightly damp feed Powdered nux vomica, i to 1 dram; powdered ipecacuanha, 1 dram; bicarbonate of soda, 1 dram; powdered gentian, up to 1 oz. The obstinate constipation which frequently accompanies this disease may be combated by the administration of Aloes, four to seven drams (depending on size of the horse), and calamel, twenty grains to one dram, given in a capsule. The diet should be restricted and of a concentrated character. For cattle, double the doses of the

powder may be used, and as a laxative sulphate of soda, half to one pound mixed with one ounce of ginger, dissolved in treacle and water. Diarrhoea, when present, should not be checked. When it is desired to treat sheep, as in a stud flock, powdered nux vomica, ten to forty grains and sodium sulphate, two to four ounces may be given as a drench shaken up in a pint of thin gruel. Preventive measures obviously relate to care in avoiding pastures infested by the weed. Sheep do not appear to suffer from the ingestion of ragwort to anything like the same extent, but discretion must be exercised and no liberties can be taken whenever the plant is known to be plentiful.