Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1879-07-26
The Animal Poison of the Far West.
Loco" or "Craxy Weed"
From the American Agriculturiss. ]

reports concerning the poisoning OF do@es
TIC animals by some plant or plants in the
lar West, but we had been unable 10 learn
anything positive concerning il. When
Doct. Gray sasted Last year With Sir Joseph
u. Hooker TO explore portions of the Rocky
Mountains and California, We d:rectei bis
attention 70 these reportr, snd asked him to
endeavof 10 secertain s,methipg definite
concerning the trouble and the plant caus-
ing il, but hi. journey was made too late in
the seUOn for him to learn much concerning
it. Since then 10 ters snd specimens have
come from those having . pers ,nal know
ledge of the injury to animals; there were
placed 10 Doct. Grsy's hands, who 10 the
following article sums up the present botan-
ical knowledge on the suhject:
The papers for several years have
abounded with accounts of q deadly Rattle
weed, and of the havoc it makes OF sheep
and goat, as well as other cat le, in thu
southern parts Of California. The following
are examples Of the letters We receive in n.
spect to this notorious cattle-poi.ouer Of
Colorado. Early in May specimens OF the
plant came through the kindne Of friend
from drug firm in Hutchinson, Kas., Who
wrote:
1--WE aend . sample of Q plant called BY
Mexicans and Spsniards Loco, and BY our
stock dealers Madveed, Crazv Plant, ctr.
1t is death to cattle. .hsep, and horses, and
seems to be known only in q strip Of count y
from Indian Nation, westward to California. |
The peculiar influence on stock is mani
tested BY making them crazy They have
dullness of vision, thirst, dizziness, and
finally coma and death. Some Of our stock
dealers have lost as many as ten horses this
spring from its efiscts.'
"ln the following June, specimens were
sent to the editor Of the American Agri-
BY F. T. Brooke, Esq., of Huer.
fano county, Colo, who wrote:
When eaten BY stock il renders them
perfectly crazy. 1t is called by the Mexi-
cans Loco or Crszyweed. A few mou,hful.
will not sfsect an animal, but be coon be-
ZONES attached 10 II a. q man does to whi.-
Key, and will eat nothing else. The animal.
sating it are affected differently; some be-
'ome perfectly wild, refuse to be ridden or
worked, while others become listless, stupid
md unfit for anything. Some pine away
nd die; others live on year after year, bul
re utterly worthless, unless stabbed and al
owed nothing but hay and grain; under
UGH treatment some recover entirely, bur
re apt to commence eating the weed again I
I tnrned cut to Craze
I'm order to obtain all the facts possible,
he editor addressed to Mr.. Brooke series
questions, to which the following came
response, and will indicate the chara cter
the questions:
" To the best Of my knowledge and belief,
,e Loco lie the plant that does the damage.
have seen horres eating this weed BY the
our, without touching anything elfe, and
lee horses we're affected a. described in nv 4
rst letter. Although there 10 great differ
ice of opinion in regard to another weed
mt We have, which seems to be fatal to cat.
e only, all etockmen agree thai Loco lie the
eed that effects our horses. There are very
v mules in my immediate neighborhood, G,
ID have never known any 10 be injured
II, but oxen and COWS are affected the
me as horses. But / do not think thew
I It as readily a. horses, for ~e have very
injured BY il, whereas have known OF
entire herd of horses being Injured more G.
less BY it. We have no hogs. except
nat are kept up. do not think sheep are
Tired BY it. don't know that they ever
1t; have seen them in the midet of il,
d could not zee that snv Of it had been q
ten. / do not think it affects the bowels
urine. have heard (but won't vouch
the truth Of III that the brain of horses
ing from eating the weed, is entirely de-
Dyed. Hence . legend among some of
cowboys, that it is . worm in the weed
ich finds its way from the stomach 10 the
lin, which il eats mp. know of no cases
ere horses died Immediately from eating U
do not think, - rule, that it is fatal. "
is supposed to be equally active at all
sons, but ! think horses scquife taste
it in the spring; it is one Of the first
en- things they can get, and they eat il in .
ference to the old grass. II kept up I'm. A
the grass gets good stsrt, they scarcel,
z touch the weed. have never had any
SEES Affected BY it as feed hay and
IN until June, and commence again when "a
hrst enow falls. Animals are injured hv .