Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1909-11-26
TREATISE ON LOCO WEED
The Symptoms Shown in Animals When Pois.
oncd BY This Weed.

The Symptoms Shown in Animals When Pois.
oncd BY This Weed.
Washington, ID. c., Nov. 14.-lt is
matter of considerable interest to
Montana that the department of agri-
culture has finally succeeded in estab-
fishing on y scientific basis the facts
in connection with the poisoning of
livestock by eating loco-weed. Ac-
coraing toa bulletin issued by the de-
.partment, the field investigations of
the weed by experts resulted in con-
clusions so contradictory that the
whole subject of loco weed was con-
fusing and unsatisfactory.
In order to discover the truth the
department, in the spring OF 1905, es-
tablishetl a special experiment station
at Hugo, Colo, where, III connection
with the stations maintained and OPP
Grated by several adjoining western
stations, feeding experiments and ex-
haustive Investigations into the ma
ture of the lOcO-weetl have been car
ried on during the past four years
with the result that there remains no
longer any doubt as to the existence
OF loco-weed poisoning, for which all
ment the department has invented
the scientific term ''barium."
OF Two Varieties.
The loco-weed consists Of several
varieties Of two closely-related spe-
cies of plants. Astragallus and Ara
gallus. These plants are found grow
ing over large portion Of the West,
including 10 states Of California.
Colo. ado, Kansas, Montana, Nebras-
ka, New Mexico, Nort:l Dakota,
Oklahoma, Texas and Wyoming,
throughout which region the loco
weed disorder is chronic. Wyoming
spent the sum of Sl44 $50 in 1898 try
ing to abate the disease, while Col
orado has spent as high as S425, 900 in
nine years of effort to eradicate the
loco-weed poisoning. Some of the
seriousness Of the loco-weed poison
ing may be gained from the fact that
in 1888, in an area of 30 by 12O miles
in Southwestern Kansas, 25,OOO cattle
perished by eating loco-weed.
The experiments at Hugo, Colo.
show that the animals affected are
sheep, cattle, horses, mules, donkeys,
goats and even dogs. Deer and ante
lope are also subject TO the disease
and are occasionally affected, but the
opinion is general throughout the
West that hogs are immune, and all
investigations thus far conducted
seem to support this belief.
The symptoms of loco poisoning in
domestic animals are described as
follows:
"The psychical symptomsare shown
by errors Of judgement. The animal
becomes dull and spiritless and wan
ders about half dazed. The mental
dullness passes into stupor. This
dull, stupid condition has been com
pared to intoXication with opium. If
the locoed horse is led across stick
laying on the ground he often jumps
high as if it were great obstacle.
The animal may now have maniacal
attacks, during which he rears and
may fall backward, and makes I'M
reasonable jumps and other unex-
pected movements, thus rendering
himself dangerous to man. Other
symptoms due to the disturbances Of
the central nervous system are halu-
cinations of various sorts. Though
the optic nerve itself is apparently
not affected, the animal will stare at
an object for long time without any
apparent comprehension Of it's ma
ture. This disturbance in the visual
function is one of the first symptoms
of this disease. The animal seems to
lose all idea of distance, as he will
butt against an obstruction as if OBJ
livious OF its presence. Any sudden
or violent motion made before him
may cause him to fall. According to
some, the animal loses the sense
which guides him in finding water.
A COW may fail to recognize her calf.
There is more or less loss Of control
of the limbs and tremors; the feet
are lifted abnormally high when trot-
ting, and if crowded, the anina! falls
headlong and will jump over little
hollows as il they were wide bitches.
The horse may shy without apparent
cause and kick at imaginary objects.
and. in fact, the reasoning powers
seem to be lost. These attacks are
brought on by sudden excitement or
when crossing water. There may be
outonoOuc hvnoro Of hoc;o.v