266 PRINCIPAL STOCK-POISOXIXG PLANTS 



back, and evidence of severe pain. The breathing is apparently 

 labored and the heart action irregular, although it is difficult to 

 be certain on these last two points, for attempts to handle 

 the animals make the spasms more violent. The action of 

 hemlock poison is very rapid. Cattle have been known to die 

 within fifteen minutes after the appearance of the first symptom 

 of poisoning. Sometimes the animals may live two or three 

 hours. 



Remedies. — Antidotes may sometimes be given with suc- 

 cess if the symptoms of poisoning are detected at once. It is 

 seldom worth while to resort to treatment, however, as the action 

 of the poison is so rapid and the spasms are so violent that 

 it is almost impossible to administer remedies. Hypodermic 

 injections of morphine as a sedative to quiet the convulsions, in 

 addition to a purgative to carry off the effects of the poison, may 

 be helpful. A drench of lard or bacon grease is also recommended 

 by some investigators. However, most cases of hemlock poi- 

 soning are hopeless, and therefore attention should be paid to 

 methods of prevention rather than of cure. 



Control and Prevention of Losses. — Because water hemlock 

 grows in wet soil, and the roots are only about 6 inches below 

 the ground, it is comparatively easy to eradicate the plant by 

 grubbing. If for any reason grubbing is impracticable, it is not 

 difficult to fence stock away from infested localities, for water 

 hemlock is almost invariably confined to isolated patches. 

 First of all, it is necessary for stockmen to learn to distinguish 

 the water hemlock plant from harmless species of the same 

 family. 



LUPINES (Lupinus) 



The lupines are given many common names. The more com- 

 mon of these are blue bean, blue pea, Indian bean, old maid's- 

 bonnet, Quaker's-bonnet, and sundial. The name loco is used 

 limitedly, but only by persons who are not familiar with the 

 true loco weeds. 



Distribution and Habitat. — Lupines are found in practically 

 all western stock-grazing regions. They grow so abundantly 

 in some localities that solid tracts of the blossoms are visible for 



