POISONS AND THErR ANTIDOTES. 1365 



backward, it will start and tremble and perhaps rear and jump backward 

 when suddenly alarmed. A badly locoed steer shows a violently shaking 

 head, particularly after it has become heated. Ordinarily a locoed steer 

 is dull, but under some conditions it may become frantic and \Nall run 

 into obstructions in an utterly unreasonable way. It is commonly said 

 by stockmen that it is impossible to drive a locoed steer, because it is just 

 as likely to run into the driver as in the opposite direction. 



Locoed cattle gradually lose flesh, have staring eyes and rough coats, 

 go to wattr less and less frequently, and eventually die of starvation. 



VI. Symptoms of Loco Poisoning in Sheep. 



The symptoms of poisoning in sheep are not so marked as those in 

 horses and cattle. The lack of muscular coordination is not so notice- 

 able, but still exists. Locoed sheep show, perhaps, more clearly the weak- 

 ness which goes with the disease, as they stumble and fall, and rise again 

 only with great difficulty. The symptoms of loco poisoning in sheep 

 resemble the symptoms caused by "grub in the head," or Oestrus ovis, and 

 it is at times difficult to distinguish between sheep affected by this grub 

 and those that are poisoned by loco weeds. 



VII. Treatment of Locoed Animals. 



The first, and without any doubt the most important, part of the treat- 

 ment is the food. As a matter of fact many locoed animals, especially in 

 the earlier stages of the disease, can be cured by simply taking them away 

 from the loco weeds and feeding them upon nutritious food Hke alfalfa 

 and grain. All chronically locoed animals are constipated, and the food 

 should be of such a character as to remove this condition. For this pur- 

 pose alfalfa and oil meal have been used, although any other food having 

 laxative properties would be useful. Probably nothing is better for locoed 

 horses and cattle than to turn them, under proper precautions, into a field 

 of alfalfa. 



Where the constipation is of an obstinate character it has been found 

 desirable to give doses of Epsom salts. The dose used in experiments 

 with mature cattle was about one pound, given in the form of a drench. 

 For younger animals the dose was smaller, calves receiving not more 

 than two ounces. For horses the dose should be about eight ounces, and 

 for full-grown sheep four ounces. These doses varied with the size and 

 condition of the animal, but commonly rather small doses were found 

 sufficiently effective. It was not necessary to repeat the treatment many 

 times, provided care was taken to give food of a laxative character. 



Very much can be accomplished in the way of preventing loco poison- 

 ing by the proper handling of stock. It has already been stated that it is 



