San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-06-18
THE LOCO WEED.
Many Failacies Concerning 1t Are
Exploded by a Local Chemist.

accredited with being a slow poison
that attacks the human brain, Undue
ing insanity and very frequently caus-
ing death and affects cattle with mad
ness.
ROmanti stories are told of how re-
vengeful senOritas have administered
poison to faithless lovers or others who
have incurred their hatred, and how
the fell drug has made their lives one
of baneful idOcy from which the death
that frequently followed was a happy
release. The madness of the Inflated
wife of Emperor MaXimillian, of Mex
leo, was attributed to the bane-
full effects of the weed and it
is in our city blamed for the
madness and subsequent death of
Pete Freer and for the insanity of
OF Messrs. Leicester and Garvin. Mr..
James Kennedy, of this city, has
made tests of the loco weed and in
paper read before the last meeting of
the State Pharmaceutical association
in Austin, he indicates that we must
look elsewhere for the causes of the
maladies referred to. Stripping his
paper of botanical specifics and chem
zeal analysis, which are unintelligible
to the general public, Mr.. Kennedy
thus writes of its
PHYSIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES.
Notwithstanding its notoriety, the
story of our plant has remained
very obscure indeed, and inquiries adj
dressed to persons pretending to be
familiar with the plant and its effects
on animals elected replies at great
variance with each other, making the
information obtained of doubtful
value, as subsequent investigation
substantially proved.
Some assert that the plant is eaten
by horses and cattle, but not by
mules; others declare that it is eaten
by cattle only, and that horses will
not touch it; while others again state
that it is eaten by horses, cattle and
mules.
With reference to it's toxic qualities,
some say the fruit alone is poisonous;
others that the poisonous effect is due
to an insect infesting the flowers; still
others, who say that the leaves only
are poisonous.
Then there is majority agreeing
with neither of the above, who pro-
nounce all parts of the plant above
ground poisonous and at all stages of
its growth.
It's effects on animals have been diff
ferently described by different obser-
vers. BY one class we have describ-
ed the symptoms of a functional dis
turbance of the organs ofassimilation,
resulting in a gradual wasting away
of animal, ending in death at the eX-
piration of several days, weeks, or
ntiY p11t In 10
the animal is observed to become
''fOOliSh.n
By others, we are furnished with
the symptoms of violent collie, begin
ming with a very mild stupor and end
ing in violent delirium; the animal
usually causing its own death by its
violent antics.
Enormous distension of the alb
domen is claimed by some as an inva-
riable effect of the loco, and the dis
tension is said to be relieved by a
knife thrust or pistol shot through
it's walls, which furnishes an exit for
the accumulated gas and insures the
recovery of the animal.
DIR. B. F. Kingsley, of this city (San
AntoniO), gives an interesting account
of the death of some mules feeding up
on it. The symptoms, manner of
death and post norton examination
are all described in Daniels Texas
Medical Journal.
l must here acknowledge the doc
tors kind assistance in our expert
ments upon the dog, to determine
physiological action. 1 must also
acknowledge the kindness of Mr.. Geo.
E. Geegge, of Fort Davis, who fur
nished me the plants for bavestiga-
ton,
A half ounce of the green plant was
thoroughly bruised and infused with
ten parts of boiling water for an hour.
The infusion, which was of rank,
nauseating odor and taste, was adj
ministered to a dog fasting. Weight
twenty-three pounds). No effect was
produced even after several hours.
~.
Second-A decoction was made by
boiling one part of the green plant
(bruised) with ten parts of water for
one hour. The decoction, represent
ing one ounce of the plant, was adj
ministered, but without producing
any effect whatever.
Third-Thinking perhaps the gas
trio juice, on account of its acidity,
might exercise a greater solvent in
fiuence on the poisonous principle
than water, 1 made decocti0n acidu-
lating with hydrochloric acid. After
neutralizing the acid the decoction
was administered, but produced no
untoward effect.
Fourth-A decoction representing
four ounces of the dry drug equal to
twenty ounces green was also adj