Graham guardian., 1909-07-16
LOCO POISON IDENTIFIED
Barium the Element Which
Causes Death of Horses
and Cattle

The socalled loco disease of horses,
sheep and cattle has been for many
years a source of serious loss to
stockmen in the west, who have
generally attributed it to certain
weeds eaten by the stock. Investi-
cations by the United States de-
partment of agriculture have not
only confirmed the supposition as to
the poisonous effect of these plants,
but have resulted in the discovery
and Identification of barium as a
definite poisonous element in them.
Feeding was carried on under field
and corral conditions by DR.. D. C.
Marsh, while the discovery of bar
ium was made in the laboratory by
DR.. A. c. Crawford.
The loco weeds are class of leg
luminous plants of which the princi-
pal ones are the purple loco weed
(Astragalus mollissimus) and the
rattle-weed (Aragaluis lamberti).
One or both of these prevail to
greater or less extent over an area
including all or parts of Montana,
Wyoming, North Dakota, South
Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, Kan
sas, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, New
Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma.
The characteristic symptoms of
the disease are a slow staggering
gait, rough coat, staring, vacant
look and .emacation. The affected
animals have hallucinations, can not
be led or backed, show more or less
lack of muscular coordination,
gradually lose flesh and die. The
affection comes on in a slow and
cumulative manner and there is no
possibility of animals becoming i'm
mune by continually eating the
plants.
The proverb, an ounce of pre-
vention is worth a pound of cure"
applies to this disorder. Although
good results can often be obtained
by the treatment of locoed animals,
the most effective way of dealing
with the trouble is to keep animals
from eating the loco plants.
Wherever practicable the weeds
shoulds be eXterminated from the
range or pasture and the best way
Of doing this is simply to cut them
out. This method, however, while
Otter practicable on land under
private control, can not very well
be applied to the public range. In
many cases much can be accomplish
ed by keeping animals away from
loco covered ranges during the time
when feed is short, as they are
much more likely to contract the
habit at such a time. 1t may
sometimes be profitable to feed
them for short time, in order that
the loco-eating habit may not be
formed.
After animals have become afflict-
ed the first essential in their treat
ment is to place them where they
can not eat the loco weeds. They
should be given plenty of nutritious
feed, and so far as practicable feed
with laxative properties, such as
green alfalfa Some may recover
under under this treatment without |
resource to medicine, With most
animals, however, recovery il hast
ened by medical treatment.
AS result of its experiments the |
of agriculture suggests
the following treatment: For cat
tie, strychnine in doses of three
twentieths to four-twentieths of
grain daily, administered hypoderm.
ically. For horses, Fowlers' solu-
tion of arsenic in half ounce doses
daily in drinking water or in their
grain. This treatment should be
continued for at least one month.
To correct the constipation which
is almost universal in locoed ami
mails, magnesium sulphate (epsom
salt may be administered as a
drench in two-ounce doses. EPSON
salt may also serve tJ s6me extent I