606 DISEASES OF CATTLE, SHEEP, GOATS, ETC. 



considerable distance. The leaves of the geranium are always some- 

 what hairy, while those of the larkspur are smooth. 



The preferred habitat of the tall larkspur is in moderately moist 

 shaded localities, especially on foothills and along the mountain 

 sides. It occurs in valleys and up to an altitude of 9,000 feet. At 

 the higher altitudes flowers are often darker blue in color and the 

 height of the plant is somewhat less. 



Attention has already been called to the possibility of eradi- 

 cating poisonous plants by digging. This method is especially 

 applicable to the tall larkspur. To illustrate this point, it may be 

 well to describe briefly the conditions in the lower Gallatin Basin, 

 where cattle have been allowed to graze every season for a number 

 of years. A few animals are poisoned every year by eating the tall 

 larkspur.- In 1898 the loss amounted to 40 cattle, while ordinarily 

 the losses are much smaller. In this basin the larkspur is almost 

 entirely confined to a few areas of small size. It is believed that a 

 month s work for one man with a weed digger, designed for cutting 

 off the roots at a short distance below the ground, would exterminate 

 the plant. The expense of this labor would not exceed the value of 

 two cattle, and this number is less than the average annual loss from 

 the tall larkspur on this range. Similar conditions were noted in the 

 vicinity of Deerlodge, Red Lodge, and Bigtimber. 



All cases of poisoning from this plant observed in Montana 

 during the season of 1900, as well as in previous years, have been 

 among cattle. Apparently it is not eaten by sheep, partly for the 

 reason that the plant is too coarse by the time the sheep are driven 

 to the summer range. Stockmen occasionally claim that horses and 

 cattle may eat the plant in considerable quantities with impunity, 

 and the observations already made on the tall larkspur indicate a 

 considerable variation in its poisonous properties at different stages 

 of growth. Apparently the plant is uniformly dangerous or fatal 

 when eaten in large quantities in its earlier stages and up to the time 

 of flowering. The root system of the tall larkspur is extensive and 

 the roots are probably never eaten by stock. 



The only remedy with which experiments have been made by 

 the writer in treating stock poisoned by this plant is potassium per- 

 manganate as a drench. This substance, combined with sulphate of 

 aluminum, was given in doses of 25 grains to 4 cattle, and all of these 

 animals recovered. The remedy was given during the first stages of 

 poisoning and before it was possible to determine whether or not the 

 cattle had eaten a fatal quantity of the larkspur. However, 3 of the 

 cattle, which were poisoned at the same time and were not treated, 

 died within about 6 hours after the first appearance of the symptoms. 



The symptoms of poisoning by this plant generally are the same 

 as from an overdose of aconite. There is a more or less pronounced 

 stiffness, accompanied by straddling and irregularity in gait. These 

 symptoms increase in severity until locomotion becomes impossible 

 and the animal falls to the ground. If subsequently excited, the 

 animals may suffer from severe muscular spasms. The special 

 senses are seldom affected, and slightly increased salivation is noted in 



