120 STOCK -POISONING PLANTS OF MONTANA. 



known localities for this plant are Belt Creek, Little Belt Mountains, 

 Bridger Mountains, Bozeman, Deerlodge, and Loto Creek. Outside 

 the State the plant grows from Colorado to Wyoming, northern Cali- 

 fornia, and Oregon. The root and leaves have been frequently 

 reported as having caused death to cattle and horses. Both the com- 

 moner Western and Eastern species of Veratrum are known to be 

 poisonous. The only doubtful question in connection with the impor- 

 tance of this species as a plant poisonous to stock is that of the extent 

 to which it is eaten. We have never observed stock eating it, although 

 this may frequently happen. The symptoms of poisoning as given by 

 stock owners are dizziness, reeling, impaired vision, frothing at the 

 mouth, and convulsions. 



The distribution of this plant in Montana is very limited, and for 

 this reason it could be easily avoided. Since it grows only on moun- 

 tains, it is quite unlikely that it w^ill cause sheep poisoning. It is 

 altogether too large and coarse for sheep to forage upon at the time 

 of year when these animals are allowed on mountain ranges. The 

 only animals reported as having been killed by it are horses and 

 cattle. As already stated, it is undoubtedly poisonous and it is there- 

 fore desirable that stockmen should become acquainted with the appear- 

 ance of the plant and its distribution. The species is found most abun- 

 dantly on the Smith River slopes of the Big Belt Mountains below the 

 Duck Creek Pass. On Belt Creek, near Monarch, and in the Bridger 

 Mountains it is also rather common. In all of these localities this 

 plant could be exterminated with a moderate amount of labor, digging 

 or cutting off below the ground with a spud being perhaps the best 

 method. Prevention by this means is the best remedy which can at 

 present be offered. No material was obtained for experimental pur- 

 poses, as our attention was fully occupied with plants much more easily 

 accessible. Experiments were, however, made with the poisonous 

 alkaloid veratrine which, judging from analogy with the common 

 swamp hellebore of the East ( V. viride Ait.), probably exists in the 

 plants, especially in the root. The object of the experiments was not 

 to observe the symptoms, but simply to determine whether or not the 

 mixture of permanganate of potash and sulphate of aluminum would 

 serve as a good chemical antidote. From chemical experiments made 

 by Dr. Moore with the permanganate and veratrine chloride, he con- 

 cluded that the permanganate would be of no value as an antidote for 

 this alkaloid. Test-tube experiments made by ourselves with a 1 per 

 cent solution of Merck's sulphate of veratrine and a 1 per cent solution 

 of the permanganate with a half per cent solution of the aluminum 

 salt showed conclusively that the mixture acted energetically upon the 

 alkaloid. A substantial basis was thus afforded for the institution of 

 experiments on animals. Had there been no reaction experiments 

 would of course have been out of the question. 



