VETERINARY MEDICINE. 1079 



high temperature for 7 to 8 hours, lu thin layers hops will dry iu the air in 

 2 or 3 days if the weather is favorable, and will retain their color perfectly." 



The manufacture of glue and gelatin, L. Thielk {Die FabriJcatioii von Leim 

 unci GchUinc. JNmorer, J'JOl, pit. I'lS, Jign. J/Ji; rev, in Osterr. Chem. Zig., 10 

 {1907), Ao. 15, p. 211). — A handbook for manufacturers and others interested 

 in glue and gelatin making. 



VETERINARY MEDICINE. 



ilesults of loco- weed investigations in the field, C. D. Marsh {U. S. Dept. 

 A(/r.. Bur. riant Indun. Bui. 1.^1, pp. ,J7, 38). — In this preliminary report atten- 

 tion is given to Anu/dllus laniberti and Astragalus mollissitnus. By means of 

 feeding experiments it has been shown that A. lamherti is poisonous to horses, 

 sheep, and cattle, and that A. mollissimus is injurious to horses. The latter 

 seldom causes trouble in cattle for the reason that they rarely eat it. The 

 principal pathological changes are anemia, congestion of the stomach walls, 

 and occasionally gastric ulcers. There is also an excess of fluids in the body 

 cavity. In some locations it may be possible to avoid the loco trouble by eradi- 

 cating the weeds. Success has been had in treating locoed cattle with strychnin 

 and locoed horses with Fowler's solution. Epsom salts is also recommended as 

 part of the treatment. 



Laboratory work in loco-weed investigations, A, C. Crawford ( U. S. Dept. 

 Agr., Bur. Plant Indus. Bid. 121, pp. 39, ^0). — Symptoms similar to those ob- 

 served in stock on the range may be produced in rabbits by feeding Astragalus 

 mollissimus and Aragallus latnbcrii. It is stated that inorganic constituents, 

 particularly barium, cause the poisonous effects in locoed animals. Symptoms 

 similar to those seen in locoed animals may be produced by feeding barium. 

 Not all loco plants contain barium and those which do not appear to be inactive. 

 It is suggested that the administration of epsom salts might be beneficial in 

 changing the barium salt to a sulphate and thus rendering it insoluble. 



Mountain laurel, a poisonous plant, A. C, Crawford {U. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. 

 Plant Indus. Bui. 121, pp. 21-35, pi. 1). — The literature relating to Kalmia 

 latifoUa was critically examined by the author and references are made to the 

 results obtained by various investigators in the study of the poisonous prin- 

 ciples of this plant. Since the visit of Kalm to this country in the eighteenth 

 century, mountain laurel has been known to be a poisonous plant. 



The investigations reported by the author were carried out on sheep and rab- 

 bits. It was found that sheep weighing 25 kg. could receive as much as 35 gni. 

 of the dried leaves without showing symptoms of poisoning. Sheep weighing 

 33.5 kg., however, were killed within a few hours by the administration of S5 

 gm. of the dried leaves unless diarrhea occurred. A number of examinations 

 were made to determine the lesions caused by mountain laurel. In one case 

 the trachea was found to be injected and serum was found in the pleural cavity. 

 The lungs were edematous and the intestines showed a condition of hemorrhagic 

 enteritis. Similar effects were produced upon rabbits. The symptoms usually 

 observed include salivation, excessive formation of tears, vomiting, and paraly- 

 sis of the legs. The active principle of mountain laurel is probably androniedo- 

 toxin, which is also found in a number of related plants. This substance was 

 isolated by the author from the filtrate obtained after the precipitation with 

 ether. 



In treating animals poisoned with nioiuitain laurel it is reconunended that 

 active purgation be produced and also v(»miting, if necessary by hypodermic 

 injection of ai»omori>hin. 



