68 STOCK-POISONING PLANTS OF MONTANA. 



These were ground into an impalpable powder and 50 grams was per- 

 colated with 200 c. c. of 60 per cent alcohol and then filtered. 



Ten cubic centimeters of this filtrate, representing 2^ grams of the 

 dried root, was fed at 2.40 p. m. to a white rabbit (A) weighing 35 

 ounces. The same amount of 50 per cent alcohol was fed five minutes 

 later to another rabbit (B) of nearly equal weight, the object being to 

 compare the symptoms produced by the alcoho'l with those produced 

 by the extract and to note the difference. The symptoms thus obtained 

 are not of course identical with those which would be produced by the 

 poison alone, but they show some of the same characteristics, although 

 the alcohol probably lessens their intensity at certain stages, as Dr. 

 Wilcox has shown to be the case in poisoning from the blue larkspur. 



Both of the rabbits were somewhat similarly affected by the alcohol. 

 In both instances the voluntary muscles were more or less paralyzed, 

 especially at first, the disinclination to move being most apparent in 

 the check B, to which the alcohol was given. During the later stages, 

 however, it appeared stronger but more stupid. It was also much less 

 alarmed than A. Its heart action was stronger and less rapid and it 

 did not show the peculiar spasmodic twitching of the muscles all over 

 the body which was so characteristic of the rabbit to which the lark- 

 spur extract was given. At 3.27 it was noticed that A's respiration 

 was not so strong as B's and that it was decidedly wheezy. The spas- 

 modic twitching of the muscles was prominent both before and after 

 this time. The alcoholic symptoms continued in both cases until 5.40, 

 at wnich time the observations were discontinued. The animals were 

 bright and hungry the next morning. 



Experiment 2. — The material for this experiment was obtained from 

 tufts of nonflowering plants a foot high, collected May 26 in» rich, 

 moist soil on the northern slope of Bridger Peak at an altitude of 

 about 7,000 feet. While gathering the plant it was noticed that the 

 leaves though succulent were very bitter. This was also noticed in 

 leaves gathered at the same place two weeks later. They were pre- 

 served in nearly their pristine condition in a botanical collecting box 

 until May 28, when 50 grams was cut up in a sausage mill and 

 extracted at ordinary temperature over night with 100 c. c. of dis- 

 tilled water. After warming at blood heat for a half hour next day 

 the extract was filtered and was ready for use, while the residue (which 

 was afterwards discarded) was set to soak with 100 c. c. of 50 per cent 

 alcohol. 



Eight cubic centimeters of the water extract, representing 4 grams 

 of the leaves prepared from nonflowering plants as described above, 

 was fed to a 26-ounce rabbit on June 1, at 3.3 p. m. It caused labored 

 breathing with wheezing and rapid heart beats, but was not fatal. 

 This was the case also after a second feeding of 10 c. c. given at 4. 30 



