, 1884-04-27
H POISON WEED.
Some Few Facts Regarding a
Deadly Plant.
How Its Effects May be Overcome
and Neutralized.

a subject of some interest TO resident
cattlemen and of. a great deal of import,
ance TO those who trail cattle through the
territory is that of the so-called poison
weed. This is found quite plentifully in
the immediate neighborhood of Cheyenne
and along many creeks in various por-
tons of the territory. The weed is never
a source of any trouble or inconvenience
except in the carly spring time, when it
usually appears before the grass begins to
sprOut well and as it is sweet and succu-
lent, is readily eaten by the cattle. The
poison weed is really a variety of larkspur,
or as it is known botanically, the dolphin
ium. OF this variety of weed there are
about twenty different species found in the
territory, although a high scientific au-
thority states that but two, or at most
three, are of a poisonous character. This
larkspur is common from the Missouri
river as far west as Salt Lake. 1t is not
troublesome in Western Nebraska, where
the loco weed, Il species of a~stragulus, is
much more prevalent. The effect of the
poison weed on cattle is very similar TO
that of clover in the early spring
months in the Eastern states.
The presence of the poison in the
animal stomach causes the generation of
a gas which quickly expands the cavity,
and thus, unless relief is granted, event
tuates in death. About two years ago a
bunch of mixed cattle from Colorado,
while being driven northward to Montana,
encountered a poison weed belt along Pole
creek. The foreman in charge of the
outfit was from Texas and knew nothing
whatever in regard to the poison weed.
As 500 as the cattle began to be affected
he at once started the herd through rapidly
in the hopes of soon getting out of the
poison weed belt. Many of the animals
soon began to show dangerous symptoms,
and while the creek was being crossed and
the animals were drinking freely, the
deadly effects of the weed became appar-
ent. After that several hundred cattle,
out of a bunch oftwo thousand, were left
strewn along the trail dangerously affected
in the course of few hours. Before the
poison weed wa left behind seventy-nine
cattle were dead and many Others were
more or less permanently damaged. 1t
is a peculiar and interesting fact
that owners of range cattle are never
troubled in the least with the poison weed.
1t is only ON rare occasions, such as the
one mentioned, that trail cattle are
caught. The mistake made in this case
was the rapidity with which the cattle
were driven and the fact that they were
allowed to drink the water. A well known
ranch man, in speaking alb out the matter
yesterday, said that the proper way to
drive cattle through a poison weed
country was to take them along very
slowly if they appeared to be affected at
all. Instead Of rushing them through
rapidly they should be driven only half a
mile a day if necessary and at the same
time kept from water. Should any of the
cattle get down a knife should be stuck
into their paunches so that the gas may
be released. and if u wad of gum camphor
is showed into their Threats alterward so
much the better. This camphor neutral
ICES the effect of such of the weed as may
yet remain in the animal stomach. The
philosophy of this is that camphor is a
chemical base which unites with the gas
in the stomach to form u salt which is
harmless.