Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1903-05-08
POISONING BY PLANTS
IN H SPRING.

and in he pastures.
Some Of the most dangerous poison.
ous plants resemble grass ip their early
v%egetative stages ind hence arc liable to
be mistaken for grass by young stock.
The poison camas, also known rs Lobe
liza, squirrel food, wild onion, poison
sego lily, mystery grnss. and sand corn.
is u plant Of this character. 1t grows
everywhere in Nevada, and is also re.
ported rs being more or less abundant
in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Mon.
tana, Itch. South Dakota, Nebraska.
California, and British Columbia. The
plant has an onion-like bulb. usually Il
foot or more in the ground, narrow,
9rass-like leaves, and stem ending in
yellowish.green flowers.
Feeding experiments shown that both
the leaves and bulbs arc poisonous, the
bulb being more actively poisonous than
the leaves. Stock are unable to pull
the bulb up with the stem unless after
heavy transforms. The greatest amount
Of poisoning occur from the mid
die OF April to the lirst Of June, accord.
ing to the season.
The larkspur0 are also very abundant
on the ranges at this season Of the year,
They are most to be feared from May
until about the middle OF June, ~ the
plants are especially poisonous during
theirearlier stages OF growth. The tall
lnrllspur frequents; for the most part,
moist canyons, while the Nevada foothill
larkspur il found ~abundnntly on the
lower foothills, its roots being capable
to withstand the long summer droughts
from year to year..
Several reports have come to the Sta
ton Ms to the poisonous character nj the
common larksp winch lead the writer
to believe that it causes a large percent
age OF the poisoning Of sheep and calves
in the spring and early summer months.
The Station Chemist has begun s series
Of analyses OF this l%arkspur. Analyses
Of the plant will be made from the time
it first sends out it's leaves i'll early
spring, through the Towering and fruit.
ing stage, III order to determine just
what period Of its growth contains the
most poisonous principles.
The first signs Of poisoning by lark
spur are a slight general stiffness and Il
%straddllnR gait, especially OF the hind
legs. Tie stiffness becomes more aud
moro pronounced until walking is quite
difficult and evidently painful. The exer.
else, ho wever ,excitestlle animal, makes his
respiration more rapid and he has FREE
quently to lie down for Il moment and
then get up and hobble along after the
band. The worst cases can thus easily
be detected since they struggle behind
the rest.
REMEDIES.
Perhaps the most important practical
recommendation III that all stockmcn
should be made thoroughly familiar
with the appearance ni the different
poisonous plants in all their stages go
that they might avoid the AREAS where
the worst poisonous plants are ubund-
ant. a general and simple remedy
which has been found by Chestnut, OF
the United States Department. or Agri
culture, to be valuable in almost all
cases Of the poisoning Of stock by
plants is the use 0f Il solution Of per
%mangannte Of potash, along with certain
other combinations according to the
nature Of the poisoning. Tho following
is taken from Chcstnut's bulletin on
Poisonous Plants.
ain case Of poisoning by plants, ca
pccially by death camRs and the lark.
spur, q solution containing equal
weights OF pcrmanganatn Of potash and
sulphate Of aluminium should be admin.
istered at nee. For adult sheep, take
according to the weight OF the animal.
FROM five to ten grains OF zach Of these
compounds dissolved in water and give
as a drench. The same lose should DO
given to hogs. Fifteen Ia 20 grains are
required for horses and from 30 TO 80 for
cattle. These doses are for adults; for
very young animals iron . to ! months
old) the dose should be made propor.
tionate!y smaller. In making these 20.
lutiOns the winter used should he sunic.
lent Tor drcnching purposes and may
vary from a pint to Il quar-, or even
more. Tho water should be puro well
or spring water. which is not too strong.
lJ alkaline. The chemicals should DO
very finely po"dcrn1 to insure rapid
and coOplete solutiob and caro- should
be taken that they are entirely dissolved
before the solution il used. For cmcr.
gency, III ease Il large number OF ami
mnls should be poisoned Mt tho Same
time, tive numbered or a thousand doses
Of dry, finely powdered enlts should bc
kept nj hand for immediate rso. There
Is little danger, even within the wide
limits given IN the last paragraphs or
administering IN excessive dOeo OF this
Hntidote. In u cHse rs much M 3 2.J0
grains Of each salt was given within ono
aud ono. halt hours to a 2.pound rabbit
without causing any III effect. II IL
very necessary, however TO observe ono
~precautioD. M Of Tie sal mixture
giicN To Tie animal must he in sOi0iiO1.
Tho solid PARTICLES. IL swallowed, will
stick 10 the walls 81 the throat or stom.
ncli aud cause intense irritation and may
Kill the animal. y few fatal cases oi
b,inuu ,,ienntttr ar. q, rn,,xI ..I..i-