The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-06-30
LOCO WEED AMP LOSS OF
LIVESTOCK.

The loco disease among horses
sheep and cattle has been known to
the west for forty years and a few
OF the western agricultural colleges
have designated the weeds which pro
duce the poisonous effects. but moi
until the last few days has the poison
itself been identified The laboratory
of the bureau of animal industry Of
the United States department of agri
culture has established the fact that
| barium is the poisonous element In
| both the purple loco and the rattle
| weed. Nr
These weeds are found on the
ranges of states as far apart as Min
nesota and Utah. They grow as far
as Texas.
Horses inflicted with loco weed
will bite their riders. throw taem-
selves on their backs and go
through all the movements of an an
imal in great pain. But little sue
cess has followed the treatment of
the insane animals.
A bulletin issued by the govern
ment describing the disease, says the
characteristic symptoms are a slow,
staggering gait. rough coat, staring.
vacant look and emaciation The af-
fe"ted animals have hallucinations,
cannot be led or backed, show more or
less lack of muscular coordination,
gradually lose flesh. and die The af-
lection comes in a slow and cumu-
latiye manner and there is no posi-
bility of animals becoming immune by
continually eating the plants.
The proverb, "an ounce of preven.
ton is worth a pound of cure" ap-
plies TO this disorder. Although good
results can aften be obtained by the
treatment Of locoed animals, the most
effective way of dealing with the trou-
BILE is to keep animals from eating the
loco plants Wherever practicable,
the weeds should 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 un-
der private control, cannot very well |
be applied TO the public range In |
many cases much can be accom-
plished 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 time. 1t may sometimes be
profitable TO feed them for a short
time. in order that the loco-eating
habit may not be formed
After animals have become affected
the first essential in their treatment
Is to place them where they cannot
eat the loco weeds. They should be
given plenty OF nutritious feed. and,
so far as practicable, feed with lax
ative properties, such as green al
ialfa Some may recover under this
treatment without recourse to medi-
cine With most animals, however
recovery is fastened by medicinal
treatment
AS a result of its experiments the
department Of agriculture suggests the
following treatment:
For cattle. strychnine in doses OF
to four-twentieths of
grain daily, administered hypoderm-
cally. For horses, Fowler's solu-
ion of arsenic in half-ounce doses
iaily in the drinking water or In the
grain, This treatment should be con-
lnued for at least a month. To cor
'ect the constipation which is almostl
universal in locoed animals. magne.
'ium suPhate Epson salt) may be ad-
mustered as a dTench in two-ounce
loses. Epson salt may also serve TO
some extent as an antidote to the poi-
son produced by the weeds. Bene-
iciai results have also been obtained
'y giving horses daily d drench con-
aiming two ounces of Epson salt
With ten drops of dilute sulphuric acid.
md by giving cattle tri,weekly three
o four ounces EPSON salt with pro-
'ortional increase in the quantity of
ulphuric acid.
The publicity of this method OF
reatment Will be OF service TO the
livestock owners of Utah and the
vest as loco weed has cost each year
. livestock large sum OF money
Examiner.