The Dickinson press., 1909-07-03
The LOCO DISEASE OF
LIVE STOCK IN the WEST

The so-called loco disease of horses,
sheep and cattle has been for many years
source of serious loss to the stockmen
in the west, who have generally at
tributed it to certain weeds eaten by
the stock. Investigations by the United
State Department of agriculture not only
have confirmed the supposition as to
the poisonous effect OF these plants,
but have resulted in the discovery and
Identification of barium as definite
poisonous element in them.
The loco weeds are class OF legum-
inous plants of which the principal
ones are the purple loco weed (Astraea-
lus mcllisimus) and the rattle-weed
(Aragallus lambert). One or both of
these prevail to greater or less extent
over an area including all parts of Mont
ana, Wyoming. North Dakota, South
Dakota, Minnesota. Nebraska, Kansas,
Colorado. Utah. Arizona, New Mexico,
Texas and Oklahoma.
The characteristic symptoms of the
disease are slow, staggering gait,
rough coat. staring, vacant look and
emaciation. 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
immune by continually eating the
plants.
The proverb. IAN ounce of prevention
is worth pound of cure'' applies to
this disorder. Although good results
can often he obtained by the treatment
of locoed animals. the most effective was
of dealing with the trouble is to keep
animals from eating the loco plainly.
Wherever practicable the weeds shoul..
be exterminated 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
land under private control, can not be
well applied to the public range. In
many cases much can be accomplished
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 may not be
formed. ~ e
After animals have become affected
the first essential in their treatment is
to place them where thew can not eat
the loco weeds. They should be given
plenty of nutritious food and so far as
practicable food with laxative properties,
such as green alfalfa. Some may re-
cover under this treatment without
recourse to medicine. With most ami
mails. however, recovery is fastened by
medical treatment. As result of its
experiments the Department of Aericul-
ture suggests the following treatment
For cattle, strychnine in doses of three
tWentleths to four tWentieths of drain
daily, administered hypodermically. For
horses, Fowler's solution of arsenic in
half ounce doses daily in the drinking
water or in the grain. This treatment
should be continued for month at
least. To correct the constipation which
is almost universal in locoed animals,
magnesium sulphate Epson salD may
be administered as q drench in 2-ounce
doses. EPSON salt may serve to some
extent as an antidote to the poison pro-
duced by the weeds. Beneficial results
have also been obtained by giving horses
daily q drench containing 2 ounces of
EPSON salt with 10 drops Of dilute sui
phEic acid, and by giving cattle tri-
weekly to ounces of EPSON salt
with 9 proportional increase in the
quantity Of dilute sulphuric acid.
AS the foregoing treatments are in
the experimental staae. the Bureau Of
Animal Industry, Washington, D. c.,
would be glad 10 receive reports Of re-
suits from their use.