VETERINARY MEDICINE. 485 



in the corrals, and making as extensive autopsies upon locoed animals as pos- 

 sible. The experiments were intended (1) to prove whether the loco weeds 

 would poison or not, (2) to demonstrate the symptoms of loco poisoning and the 

 pathological lesions accompanying it, and (3) to determine whether or not reme- 

 dial measures could be instituted for the relief of the loco-infested area. 



The conclusions reached as the result of the work of three seasons are sum- 

 marized as follows : 



" Thert» is no longer any question in regard to the poisonous properties of the 

 loco plants. It was clearly demonstrated that animals eating these plants would 

 succumb sooner or later to their poisonous action. . . . 



" It was found that the symptoms of the loco disease were essentially like those 

 which had been mentioned by the majority of stockmen. . . . The more promi- 

 nent symptoms are a staggering and uncertain gait, caused by a general disturb- 

 ance of the nervous system, which leads in some cases to an apparent partial 

 paralysis of the limbs and to a very distinct lack of muscular coordination. The 

 animals eating loco eat more and more of it, although they do not in all cases 

 acquire a passionate love for the weed, and sooner or later lose flesh and die of 

 starvation. 



" In the post-mortem examinations it was found that there were certain 

 quite detinite lesions. The animals were strongly anemic. This anemia was 

 indicated not only by paleness of flesh and actual loss of blood, but by serous 

 deposits in various parts of the body. The blood was found to be poor in 

 hemoglobin and commonly rather rich in leucocytes. A diseased condition of 

 the stomach was a common accompaniment of the locoed condition, this being 

 marked in cattle by ulcers in the fourth stomach. All the body fluids are 

 rather unusually abundant, and this is particularly true of the fluid of the 

 epidural space of the spinal canal, which is commonly more or less organized, 

 so that the sijinal canal frequently seems to be filled with a jelly-like substance. 

 There is a hyperemic condition of the central nervous system, which in acute 

 cases is accompanied by clots in the lateral ventricles. In females diseased 

 ovaries are common. 



" The common loco plants in Colorado and adjacent territory are 'Aragallus 

 lambcrti and Astragalus moUissimtis. . . . The results of the experiment showed 

 very clearly that Astragalus moUissinius was much the more virulent. . . . 



" Horses, cattle, and sheep are somewhat differently affected by these plants. 

 In regions covered with Astragalus vioUisshuus the only common locoed animals 

 are horses. Horses which eat this plant become i)oisoned ordinarily rather 

 quickly and may die in a comparatively short time. Both cattle and horses 

 eat Aragallus lamherti, but cattle, perhaps, rather more freely than horses, so 

 that in regions where Aragallus lamhcrti is the more common loco plant the 

 cattle are much more commonly affected than horses. . , . Sheep eat both 

 siiecie.s, but for them also Arat/allus lamhcrti is the more dangerous, inasmuch 

 as they are more apt to eat this plant than Astragalus mollissimtts. 



" It was found that there is a great difference in the individual susceptibility 

 of animals to the loco poison, although most of them will succumb to the 

 temptation and perish from its effects sooner or later. In regard to different 

 breeds of animals there is a distinct difference, although the observations were 

 not extensive enough for any broad generalizations. Generally speaking, the 

 better-bred animals are more likely to be ])oisoned than those that have become 

 accustomed to the country. Among sheep, black-faces yield much more quickly 

 than Merinos. Among cattle, Durhams and Aberdeen-Angus were found to 

 yield 'more quickly than Ilerefords. 



" In regard to remedial measures, the work of the experiment gives quite 

 definite suggestions. It is clear that where land is sufficiently valuable to 



