128 STOCK-POISONING PLANTS OF MONTANA. 



made contained what appeared to be the leaf and pods of Thermopsis. 

 The progress of decomposition was so far advanced that a positive 

 identification of the stomach contents was impossible. All parts of 

 this plant are comparatively soft, and therefore soon lose their identity 

 in the stomach. 



The range upon which these animals died was remarkably free from 

 weeds and poisonous plants, with the single exception of Thermopsis 

 rhomhifoUa. During a drive of 30 miles on this range no other plants 

 were seen which had ever been suspected of being poisonous. But 

 in the absence of clear postmortem evidence, and without even a 

 knowledge of the symptoms, it is impossible to arrive at any positive 

 conclusion regarding the case. 



The seeds of the yellow pea are strongly suspected of causing the 

 death of children near Winnipeg. 



It can hardly be stated that the mountain false lupine {Thermopsis 

 montana Nutt.) (PI. XXV) is considered a poisonous plant in Mon- 

 tana; on the contrary, it is regarded by stockmen as good hay if cut 

 young. Large quantities of the flowering plant, however, were 

 observed to be left unmolested in stock yards where stock were stand- 

 ing and where there was no other verdure. This fact suggests very 

 strongly that the flowering plant, at least, is not edible. It is barely 

 possible, also, that a suspected plant described as being gray and 

 growing near water at Logan is this species. It grows in very great 

 abundance in wet creek bottoms near that place. It was said that this 

 gray plant is especially poisonous after a rain storm. 



A supply of the flowering plants was sent at my request from Tos- 

 ton on May 26, and arrived on the 27th, in a slightl}^ wilted condition. 

 The leaves regained their freshness, however, after they had been 

 sprinkled and had lain in a moist piece of newspaper for a few hours. 

 Fifty grams each of the flowering stems, exclusive of leaves, and of 

 the leaves and stems, exclusive of flowers and the tough basal portion, 

 were deprived of adhering moisture by the use of blotting paper, 

 ground separately in a sausage mill, and each soaked for a da}" in 100 

 c. c. of water, after which they were heated a half hour at blood heat 

 and then filtered. The taste of the ground leaves was very nauseating 

 and much like that of green beans. 



Experiment 1. — On Ma}'' 31 10 c. c. of the water extract from the 

 flowers, equivalent to 5 grams of the fresh material, was fed at 11.12 

 to a rabbit the weight of which was not ascertained. From 12 m. to 

 1.26 p. m. the symptoms noted were a slight malaise and drowsiness, 

 with more or less labored, wheezy breathing. At 3.15 more of the 

 extract was offered to the animal, but unfortunately it was accidentally 

 killed in the attempt to feed it. The solution rapidly became moldy 

 and was unfit for further experiments. 



Experiment £. — On June 1 10 c. c. of the leaf extract, equivalent to 



