Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1885-08-20
POISONOUS PASTURE PLANTS.
rhelr Evil Results and the Necessity of
Their Complete Destruction.

rhelr Evil Results and the Necessity of
Their Compiets Destruction.
The prevalence Of poisonous plants In
Wild woods pastures and on ranges re-
quires correct knowledge Of their
habits of growth. characteristics and
appearance, rs necessary 10 all VIII o
herd or pasture stock whore such
plants may be suspected. The reported
outbreak Of milk-sickness in some tim.
bered pastures of Southern Indiana,
aud in other similar localities, lately.
recalls the time years ago and occa-
sionally since when farmers In infected
districts dared neither use the milk OF
their cows nor the butter made from tho
milk. Investigation at that time seemed
to point to plant of the genus Eupa-
torum, yet no really conclusive evil
dence seems to have fixed the real
source definitely According ~ a state.
ment of Prof N. S. Townsend in the
Ohio Report OF 1873, Mr. John Rowe
experimental with plants of white
snake-root, producing fatal results in n
COW. and attesled by number Of
reputable gentlemen. In 1859 Mr.. w.
j. Vermiya, in Ashland County, o.. is
said also TO have produced the disease
called milk-sickuess with this weed On
the other hand. cases have been noticed
In wild pastures said not to have con-
tanned the plant Hence there is yet
large difference Of op nion in relation
to this matter. and the writer can only
record such facts as would seem TO be
well borne out, in hopes that careful
investigation by competent botanis Is
will be made.
The outbreak seems generally con.
fined 10 dry seasons and the difficulty
was supposed to arise from drinking
the water Of mineral springs, TO which
cattle were obliged TO resort at such
times. The infection was at last fairly
relegated to certain plants found in
lone, moist situations in the timber.
first suspected from the fact that an
imals kept on cultivated pastures were
not affected.
The difficulty was at length fairly
traced TO eating the plant known as
white snake-root (EapdtOriUm Ggerd.
foidcs) and, fed to cattle. horses and
sheep. they became affected with all the
symptoms Of the disease known rs
'trembles" and milk sick" There
are many varieties OF Eupatorium
(ThoroughworD valuable in medicine.
The plant in question, white snake
root, is common in rich woods AMI
undergrowths in the North, especially
in moist situations. The leaves of this
plant are broadly ovate (oval, but
broader near the basel, aud on long
petioles or stems. They are pointed,
coarsely, and sharp toothed tiin, and
four to live inches long. In open fields
the weed grows near fences, old logs,
stumps, etc. where il may get the
requisite moisture. IL will not grow in
a meadow or pasture except in the situ.
ations ind Gated. II Is eaten by horses,
cattle and she but not naturally.
That Is, they c, it only when other
food Is scarce, OF when starved TO il,
but with eating the taste increases. It.
decrease with settlement, and the adj
ded fact that only in seasons Of short
pastures is II injurious, should cause
farmers in regions where Il has ever
been known to do damage to seek it
out aud destroy Chicago Tribune.