San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-10-29
THE LOCO WEED.


More Evidence Showing the San
Antonio Chemist was Right.
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Oct. 26.
To the San Antonio LIGHT:
In June last, a paper on the Loco.
plant (Astragulus mOllicissimus) read
before the State Pharmaceutical asso-
citation by James Kennedy, Phi. g., of
San Antonio, was published in the
LIGHT. The conclusions arrived at
were the result of a careful chemical
analysis of the plant, and JOINT
study with myself, of its THERAPEUTIC
effect and mode of operating on ami
mails, which conclusions radically up
set all previous notions in regard to
the drug. A summary of my views
relative thereto were published in
Daniels Texas Medical Journal for
June, and so far as l know, have en-
c9untered no medical opposition. Not
long, subsequent to the date of Mr..
Kennedy's paper, Prof. Sayer, of
Kansas, published a small pamphlet
in which he took issue with some of
Mr.. Kennedy's conclusions; re-
Gently, however, after a more
prolonged and careful analysis and
study of the drug, he is forced to en-
dorse Mr.. Kennedy's views.
The "lOco' is generally supposed to
be very poisonous, to be very destruc-
tive to animal life and to produce a
species of insanity in man, well
known among Mexicans. Around it
cluster more mystery and presump-
ton and error, and commensurate with
these, more fallacy than around any
other plant in the materia medica.
The facts determined were directly
at variance with the popular concep-
tions and demonstrated its innOcuous-
ness, and that it is innocent Of all the
charges heretofore brought against 1t,
that it does not kill animals by rea-
son of its poisonous properties, nor
least of all does it cause insanity in
men; that its supposed poisonous eff
fects were only those incident to an
over-feed of any green material to
which the animal had not been ac-
customed, producing the identical
symptoms, deaths and post norton
evidenced by violent collie.
DIR. Bib, of Mexico, has recently
diligently investigated the history of
a number of cases in MeXicans, sup
posed to have been "Locoed," in
which there were strange mental
and nervous phenomena present and
determin beyond doubt that the
symptoms were of hysterical or neu-
| rOtic origin.
1t may be here stated as an indica-
| ton of the value and Importance Of
Mr.. Kennedy's paper. that it has been
reproduced by the London Pharma-
| AZ, l,Ty ha
| gistS Circular.
have thought itSS,well to present
! the foregoing resume of facts III order
to divest the popular mind of error
concerning it. and to put the plant in
its proper light for the benefit of
stOckmen and others interested, for
in this instance ignorance and super
stitiOn are not more blissful than wis
dom. 3. +. KINGSLEY, NJ. ID.
VOTE for Belknap to go to Washing
ton as your representative, and for
Savers to 90 to BastrOp.
A Return OF Duty.
This is always desirable, and the
speedier it takes place the better.
Doubly welcome is it in the case of
those unusually industrious little or
gan, the kidneys, which, when they
90 on a strike-so to speak-and drop
work. seriously imperil health in
more than one way. First and fore.
most, their inaction begets their dis
ease, which is hydra-headed, includ,
ing such dangerous maladies as
Bright's disease and diabetes. Next
, when inactive they fail to assist in
removing from the blood impurities
, that begets rheumatism, govt and
, dropsy. Third, their inaction weak
ems the bladder. All this is prevent
; able and remediable by the pleasant
: promoter of organic action. Hostel
, ter's Stomach Bitters. at once tonic
: and regulator. This gently but eff
: fectually impels the kidneys to re
turn to duty, and strengthens then
, and the bladder. Upon the bowels
stomach and liver it likewise eXerts {
regulating and invigOrating influence
and it strengthens the system, anC
averts and remedies malaria anC
! rheumatism. lO-2S-6t
: VOTE for Belknap and for tida
wave of prosperity in west Texas,