The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1926-12-10
Trembles" and
milk Sickness"
Recent Discoveries May Re-
duce Mortality From
This Disease.
Prepared by the United States Department
0f cyrint

OF Agricutture.)
The close relation between the dis
ease known as ''trembles' in cattle
and milk sickness" of persons has
been the subject of scientific investi-
cation for many years. A recent out
break of the disease in Illinois caused
the death of Is persons, according to
reports reaching the United States De-
partment of Agriculture early in Oc-
tober. The outbreak is a repetition of
many similar ones throughout the
country and recalls heavy death losses
among early pioneers from a mystic
rious disease.
Recent experiments by DR.. James T.
Couch, of the bureau of animal indus
try, have resulted in new information
that promises to be beneficial to the
public and the live stock industry.
The experiments, supplementing those
Of other investigators, show conclus-
lively that poisonous plants cause
trembles in cattle, sheep, horses and
other animals, that animals also may
be poisoned without showing symp-
toms of trembles, and that milk and
butter from cows so poisoned are dan
gerous to the consuming public. The
results explain also q condition which
observing farmers had been reluctant
to believe, namely, that milk sickness
among persons may occur in the win
ter, when the poisonous plants are
dormant.
Summary Of Findings.
A summary of the bureaus latest
findings includes the following facts:
Two plants are responsible for trem-
bles in live stock. In the East and
Central West the poisonous plant is
the richweed, also known as white
snakeroot. In Texas and New Mex
leo, where the animal malady is called
"alkali disease" the poisonous plant
Is the rayless goldenrod. Richweed is
slender plant, from 2 to 4 feet high,
with leaves from to inches long,
pointed and thin. 1t Is widely dis
tributed in the eastern part of the
United States and as far west as Min
nesota and Nebraska, and as far south
as Louisiana. 1t is found generally in
rich soil in damp woods. Rayless
goldenrod, known in some localities as
jimmy weed, is stout, erect, tufted
perennial herb, commonly from 1 to 2
feet, but it may grow taller under ia
vorable conditions as on the banks of
irrigating bitches. The leaves are
narrow and about to 2 inches long,
usually with stout, stiff hairs on the
margins.
Animalus may be poisoned by the
dry richweed plant-such as in hay
in winter, but still not have trembles.
This fact is due to the presence Of
three poisonous substances in rich
weed, only, one which causes symptoms
Of trembles in cattle and milk sickness
in human beings. This poison, which
is complex alcohol, has been named
''tremetol." The other two poisons
are resinous acid and volatile oil.
The poison of the rayless goldenrod
has not been studied so completely,
but is known to be dangerous when
the plant Is either green or dry.
Products Dangerous.
Authentic records Of numerous ILL
nesseS and deaths furnish abundant
evidence that the products Of poisoned
animals are dangerous for human con-
sumption. In some localities doctors
have specialized in treating milk sick
ness and medical reports contain fire.
quent references to the mystery Of
the disease, and Of heavy fatalities"
and panic" among settlers. Milk and
butter from dairy cattle that have con-
sumed either of the plants mentioned
are considered gravely dangerous,
though conclusive chain of evidence
leading directly to these products has
not yet been established. This fact Is
due perhaps to the tendency of scien-
tific workers to keep within their re-
spective fields of animal and human
pathology.
Even when milk sickness is not ia
tai to man, there usually follows a
long period of Illness and reduced vi
tally. Stock owners are advised to
combat the poisonous plants men
toned by pulling or digging them up
wherever found. Especially during
the fall. animals also should be kept
out of pastures infested with the poi
sonous plants.
AS a further means Of combating
milk sickness and diagnosing suspect
ed cases, Doctor Couch has developed
a laboratory test for tremetol. Direc-
lions for making the test. which is
best performed by laboratory workers,
physicians, or druggists. will be
furnished on application to the Path
illogical Division of the Bureau of An
imal Industry, United States Depart
ment of Agriculture, Washington, d. c.