Rocky Ford enterprise. (Rocky Ford, Colo.) 1887-1950, 1901-04-26
SAVING STOCK FROM EFFFcn
OF POISONOUS NI,

nOte ana Nulue Is tue ioTthcohiluE re-
port of the Department OF Agriculture
on stock poisoning plants of Montana,
prepared under the direction of Mr.. V.
X. Chestnut and DIR. Il. V. Wilcox.
who spent the entire summer of 1900
making field examinations and exper-
imen,s to determine Just what plants
on the Montana ranges were injurious
10 sheep and cattle. and what We're
not. As result OF their investiga-
tions. they are satisfied that they
have. In II great measure. solved the
notwithstanding problem. and discov-
cred n cheap and effective antidote
which Will. II properly ana judiciously
administered. save thousands OF sheep
and cattle each year. lnasmuch ms
many OF the plants found In Montana
are common To other western states
where sheep are hcrlcd In consider
able numbers, and where cattle are
ranged. this report will be- OF ines
Unable vaiue To all her,lers and will
prove n valuable guide Ia all who have
experienced difficulty ON account OF
plant poisoning among their sheep or
cattle.
There are no figures showing the an
nual loss OF sheep and stock from
plant poisoning. but out OF D.I:5 eases
OF shes? poisoning coming under the
/, during the summer 3.33i proved IA
tai. OF liz cattle that were poisoned.
ninety died and six horses out of l5i
died from the effects OF plant poison
Ing. or course. some plants nrc morc
destructive than others. the greatest
destruction being worked by the ln'
pine. In the winter OF lsas:rp Il II
stated that loo sheep were poisoned
from eating iuplnc hay AMI Isl: died.
In the following summer 10 cattle
Were poisoned from eating false iuplnc
and 100 died.
In order So observe the effect OF the
various poisons contained In the dit.
fcrcnt plants. alcoholic solutions OF
the polsons were used In experiments
upon rabbits. Through careful
study OF the effects OF these poisons
on the rabbits. IL was possible 10 HUI
mn cfrcctual nntido'-. aud ascertain
Just whnt doses should l., admins
tered and In what way.
The question naturally arises. can.
not The poisonous plants h. replaced
by some form Of aggressive forage
plant; i, has b--n found 10y expert.
men, shai the smooth bronze rras. AMI
the western wheat rruss arr the only
one. 80 fnr found which can l.. used
with good effect. aud they only where
there IL nm abundance OF water. To Ia.
SURF rupld development. Jndicious
hcr'iins. Of course. il h-n~iicial nni II
h-ri-r. t--cuu- thoroughly familiar
with the different varieties Of poison.
Gus plants. they will h. Rbi- To- avoid
innscFou. sinis NOR. or less. SIN
further prrN'aution might H. taken
where Poisonous plants grow In well.
defined arras by -radicaiinT the plant
entirely. but IN most instances the
dangerous growth 1. 80 scattered that
u il almost impossible to die IL up.
II has b-rn found that many pFac.
iicys r-s.rt-i to by h-r,i-rs In cases
OF poisoning ar- not only unavaiiinr.
hut detrimental. These two scientists
strongly condemn the common pracl
ticr among hcrirrs to keep Poisoned
shc-p Oh the move under any npi all
circumstances. II i. asserted that. on
the cunirsry. the suffering animals
should remain ~ quiet ns possible. as
moving aipu, w-ak-ns them aud often
results fatally. where Otherwise frcp,.
cry would have t-,cn possible.
The practice OF blcc,iinr I. likewise
condemned. a. !. the administration
OF melted lard or fat PORK. and doses
OF soda or vinegar arr a.. severely
criticised. or coursc. each instance l.
taken up nni fully discussed in the ~.
port. 1t Is clearly shown that stock.
iii-n have no general. simple aud fciia.
bic aniid1ic for such Poisoning.
Aftcr an elaborate series Of cSrrris
fncuts. " IL recommended that the rce.
ular use Of n solution Of prrmanrunatc
Of potash will prove an effective anti.
do'c in mos, case. Of plan, poisoning.
BESIDES being ci'icaciotl~. Its admins.
trn'ion IL so simple. and Its mode Of
administration 80 easily understood.
that II IL recommended In almost all
eases Of poisoning Of stock 10y plants.
aluminium suiphatc. used in copjuuc.
ton with the pcrmanranatc Of potash.
adds to the effectiveness Of the remedy.
shccpmcu have a great advantage
over cattle men In the usc Of this an.
tidute. because sheep. being constant.
" hcrdcd. arr soon detected when
POISONED. II takes considerable time
for she poison TO h. extracted from
the various parts Of the plant eaten
AMI TO ~ absorbed from the stomach.
80 that " the antidotc is administered
immediately. rs would naturally h.
the case. there IL an excellent chance
10 destroy most Of the poison before
II is absorbed. Full directions arr
given for preparing and administering
this dose. prrnching IL the favored
method OF administering .hc au,ijutC. |
but " this cannot H. rcsortcj to. other |
suggestions are given.
or all plants examined. the death |
cainas is one Of the most deadly. and |
one OF 'hc mos, abundant. l,cinE n
very early plant. II makes its appear /
ancc sooner than do most grasses. AMI |
Is naturally sought by sheep and cat |
tic. In its early stages IL strongly ~.
seinhlcS Young blades of grass. Herd. |
ers should become familiar with this /
plant in all stages Of its growth. and. |
as FAR as possible. herd the sheep |
away frum such areas. Death camas |
Is q smooth. simple stcmmci pcrcn.
NAL. with On onion.iikc bulb narrow. |
linear leaves. and n short cluster "
ycllowish green flowers
1nll lnrk siiiIr il nfintlinr. rrr,. innrrf-