LEGUMINOSAE— ASTRAGALUS 565 



affected the sensory ganglia of the nervous system, preventing them from 

 readily receiving impressions and killed by arresting the heart action. 



Dr. B. T. Galloway states that the loss from "loco" poisoning in Colorado 

 alone has reached the sum of one million dollars per annum. It might be said 

 in this connection that Prof. Power and Mr. Gambier investigated the subject, 

 but were unable to locate definitely the kind of alkaloid. These gentlemen 

 state : 



One kilogramme of the Astragalus herb gave 0.2 of a gramme of the alkaloid, equivalent 

 to 0.006 per cent. Nothing further was determined concerning its nature, as it does not 

 appear to be especially active. An extract from one kilogramme of the seed of the Crotalaria 

 gave 1.1 grammes of an alkaloid, 0.036 per cent of the weight of the seed. It had a bitter 

 taste, and seems to be more potent than that obtained from Astragalus. 



From these investigations these authors conclude that both the Astragalus 

 and the Crotalaria contain very small amounts of toxic alkaloids, to which the 

 symptoms of poisoning may be reasonably attributed. Prof. Sayre, who has 

 not gone into the details in the paper referred to, however, reiterates what he 

 has stated in several previous ones, that it is a question whether so small 

 amount of alkaloid could produce such grave physiological disturbances. 



The symptoms of poisoning are very well given in a paper by Prof. Chesnut : 

 Horses, cattle, and sheep are affected by loco, but the principal damage is done to 

 horses. The effect is not acute, but in its slow progress stimulates diseases caused by 

 bacteria, worms, or other parasites or such as are caused in man by the continued use of 

 alcohol, tobacco, or morphine. Two stages are recognized. The first, which may last several 

 months, is a period of hallucination or mania accompanied by defective eyesight, during 

 which the animal may perform all sorts of antics. After acquiring a taste for the plant it 

 refuses every other kind of food, and the second stage is ushered in. This is a lingering 

 period of emaciation, characterized by sunken eyeballs, lusterless hair, and feeble move- 

 ments. The animal dies as if from starvation, in periods ranging from a few months to 

 one or two years. 



Dr. Carl Ruedi isolated an acid {loco acid) from it to which he attributed 

 the poisonous qualities of the plant. 



Astragalus is said to cause considerable trouble in Nebraska. "In regard 

 to the treatment," says Mr. O'Gara, 



There is little to be said. All medicines that have been tried seem to have been of 

 doubtful effect. More can be done by keeping animals away from loco than in any other 

 way. As long as there is a plentiful supply of grass, there is little to be feared, but when 

 pastures and ranges run low, stock should be closely watched. At the very first appear- 

 ance of trouble, affected animals should be removed to some place where they cannot gain 

 access to loco. Good nourishing food should be given. If the disease has obtained a strong 

 hold on the animal there is little hope of recovery under the best of treatment, hence the 

 need of early treatment and pra ipt removal from the source of the trouble. 



Dr. Mayo suggests the following treatment : 



Ounces 



"Sulphate of iron, pulverized 1 



Gentian root, pulverized 4 



Ammonium chloride, pulverized 1 



Potassium nitrate, pulverized 1 



Mix thoroughly and give from a heaping teaspoonful to a tablespoonful, 

 according to the size of the animal, in the food three times daily." 



Dr. Dwight C. Marsh and Albert C. Crawford under the direction of Dr. 

 R. H. True who has charge of the Poisonous Plant Investigation of the U. S. De- 

 partment of Agriculture, have arrived at conclusions wholly at variance with 

 previous investigation. They conclude that Oxytropis Lamberti poisons horses, 

 sheep, and cattle and that Astragalus mollissimus poisons horses, but does not 



