Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1887-1890, 1888-06-13
THE DEADLY LOCO WEED,
Cattle and Sheep are Safe Unless they Eat
Too Much of 1t.

Too Much of 1t.
Cascade county farmers are now some
what concerned IN regard to the loco
weed and its probable effect on sheep
and other animals There are twenty or
thirty weeds going by this appellation,
varying greatly III habits Of growth and
general characteristics. The plant COM
monty called "loco' here, is member of
the bean family. Its general appearance
is as follows: From woody base hidden
in the ground arise several short
branches, also hidden, from which arise
many long slender leaves, each leaf
formed Of one terminal and numerous
lateral leaflets, making a clump of leaves
which seem to start from the ground;
from the center of each tuft Of leaves
(there may be twenty or more in each
clump) grow stalks bearing large white,
purplish or even yellowish flowers in
great profusion. In due time pods are
formed, each Of which is tipped bya slen-
der point. Theplant is abundant all over
the prairies and is in full bloom now. It
is innocent enough to look at, and is
really much less harmful than is gener-
ally supposed by stock-growers.
1 Opinions conflict as to what period of
its growth it is most pernicious. Some
claim it's most virulent condition is in
early spring when new leaves are spring
ing up Others that it is worst after the
seed is formed or ripened. No one seems
to know accurately what its true proper
ties are. Some claim that "staggers" in
sheep are by it: but it is we'll known that
"staggers" are caused by a cystic worm
so often found in sleeps livers. Others
claim that those well-defned cases of
poisoning in stock are consequence of
its being freely eaten, where there is no
evidence Of snake bites.
So much talk has been occasioned by
this plant, newspapers are full of it
sometimes, and the annual United States
agricultural reports alwas devote some
space, that at last the real spirit of inves-
tigation has entered the minds Of medical
men. A short while ago large quanti-
ties Of the weed were collected and de-
coction made from the leaves. Medical
students subjected themselves to expert
ments with this decoction. They took
frequent doses, which were increased in
size, until some effects were visible. It
took a considerable quantity to produce
any effect. The results were discovered
that in small quantities no evil effects
were produced, but after large quantities
had been absorbed, the subjects be-
came heavy and drowsy and finally
the brain was quite benumbed and in one
or two instances the persons were with
| difficulty restored to their normal condi
ton. simultaneously with this expert
ment horses, cattle and sheep were fed
with the fresh leaves of this OXytropis or
'loco" and with similar results. At first
no evil effect could be dscerned, and not
until large quantities of the leaves had
been eaten daily for considerable time,
were any of the symptoms noticed. First
of all the subjects digestive organs were
deranged, and in time, mental disturb
ances, and ultimately, stupifcation, like
that in the human subjects, was brought
about. Several subjects died, but the
others slowly recovered, apparently going
through similar symptoms as man often
goes through in getting over protracted
"drunk."
The doctors concluded from these ex-
experiments that this oxytropis Or "oco'
was quite harmless when taken in small
quantities and that it only produced evil
lCbul0o dIlC4 DolHS Cu-Ol uUuuuuuJly sew
eral days in succession. The experiments
were conducted scientifically and exhaus-
lively and stockmen may safely rely upon
this verdict.
Since learning the foregoing well
known cowman from Texas gave his
opinion which is substantially the
same as the scientists. He tells
us that the plant is harmless, unless eaten
for days together, when it makes the cat
tie so "drunk" that they can't eat and they
die Of stupiicaton and starvation. He
says the same plant is common on Texas
ranges.
Another plant Is now added to the list
of "loco Weeds" 1t is common in Mon
tana and Wyoming. 1t is little white
prairie lily, with narrow, grassy leaves in
a little tuft close to the ground from the
midst of which spring several white flow
ers Of most delicate and graceful mold.
The plant grows in early springand is said
not to be poisonous until its seed devel-
opes. tits asserted that sheep are poison
ed by this prairie lilly, more than by any
other weed, as the leaves being so much
like grass are nibbled with the grass, but
cannot vouch for this from personal OBJ
SeryatOn f. w ANDERSON