Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-07-05
LOCO POISON HAS
BEEN LOCATED
Researches of Bureau Animal
Industry Have Solved Pro-
bIem; Prevention the Best
Cure.
special Correspondence To Morning Journail

Especial Correspondence to Morning Journal
Washington, ID c., July The
s~o-called loco disease ol horses, sheep
and cattle has been for many years a
source OF serious loss to stockmen in
the west, who have generally attrlbut-
ted it to certain weeds eaten by the
stock. Investigations by thc United
States department of agriculture have
not only confirmed the supposition as
to the poisonous effect of these plants,
hut have resulted in the discovery ana
identification of barium as a definite
poisonous element in them, Feeding
Industry tman item mon unaun auna
were carried on under field and corral
conditions by DR.. c. u. Marsh, while
the discovery of barium was made in
the laboratory by Dr.. a. G.. Crawford.
The loco weeds are a class of leg
luminous plants of which the principal
ones are the purI e loco weed (Astra-
galus mollissimus) and the rattle-weed
(Aragallus lambertiD one or Doth of
these prevail to a greater or less OK
tent over an area including all or parts
of Montana. Wyoming. North Dakota
South Dakota. Minnesota, Nebraska,
Kansas. Colorado. Utah, Arizona, New
Mexico Texas and oklahoma.
The characterised symptoms of the
disease are a SLOW, staggering gait,
rough coat, staring, vacant look, and
emaciation. The affected animals have
Authorizations, can not be led or back
show moro or less lack of musCu-
coordination. gradually lose flesh,
and die. The affection m on in a
slow and cumulative n and there
is no possibility Of animals becoming
immune by continually eating the
plants.
The %provcrb IAN ounce of prevention
is worth a pound of cure" applies to
this disorder. Although good results
can often be obtained by the treat
of lococd animals. the most cf-
~fectivo way of dealing with the trou-
is To keep animals from eating the
loco plants. Wherever practicable the
should be exterinated from the
range or pasture. and the best way of
doing this is simply to cut them out.
This method. however, while often
practicable on and under private on
troll. can not very we'll be applied to
the public range. In many cases much
be accomplished by keeping ami
mails away from loc%o-covered ranges
during the time when feed is short. As
are much more likely TO on-
the habit at such q time. 1t may
sometimes be profitable to feed them
for a short time, in order that the To-
co-cating habit may not be formed
After animals have become affected
first essential in their treatment
IS to place them where they can not
eat the loco weeds. They should be
given plenty of nutritious feed. and so
as practicable feed with laxative
properties. such as green alfalfa. some
recover under this treatment
without To medicine. With
most animals. however. recovery is
FASTENED by medical treatment.
As a result of its experiments the
department Of agriculture The /
treatment. for cattle. stry-
chninc in doses OF thrcc-tWentieths to
four-twenticths OF a grain daily. adj
hyprodermically. For hors-
IS. Fowlcr's solution OF arsenic in half
ounce doses daily in the drinking wa
or IN the grain. This treatment
should be continued for at least one
To correct the constipation
which IS almost universal in locoed
animals. magnesium suiFhate (epsom
salD may be administered a. a drench
IN a doses. Epson salt may
also serve TO some extent as an anti
lote 10 the poison produced by the