Suspected annual mercury (Mercurialis annua) poisoning of lambs grazing fallow arable land
Welchman, D.B.; Gibbens, J.C.; Giles, N.; Piercy, D.W.; Skinner, P.H.
Veterinary Record 137(23): 592-593
1995
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 8748173 Document Number: 451893
In late October and November 1992, 11 lambs, in a flock of 400 8-month-old Romney lambs, died. The lambs were grazing fallow arable fields and up to a quarter of the flock lagged behind when driven. Deaths were preceded by recumbency, tachycardia, haematuria and pale greyish-brown discoloration of the mucous membranes. Pathological findings including haemolytic anaemia and haematuria were indicative of annual mercury poisoning. Abundant growths of annual mercury which showed signs of grazing were present in the fields grazed by the lambs; in some areas it was the predominant vegetation.