240 POISONING. 



Numerous autopsies on locoed sheep and horses revealed slight con- 

 gestion of the brain membranes in all cases. The lungs and heart were 

 in normal condition. Fatty tissue was considerably reduced in quantity, 

 and the muscles were paler in colour than under normal conditions. 



The most serious mistake in connection with loco disease is made in 

 allowing locoed sheep to remain with the rest of the flock. The loco 

 habit is apparently learned by imitation of locoed animals, and so long 

 as locoed sheep are allowed to remain with other sheep the loco habit 

 rapidly spreads. An experienced sheep raiser, after being nearly ruined 

 financially through the loco disease, adopted the method of immediate 

 isolation and the feeding of locoed sheep for mutton. His stock was 

 replaced with sheep that were free from the loco habit, and the trouble 

 has been entirely eradicated from his range. 



No specific remedy for the loco disease has been discovered, and in 

 the nature of the case no such remedy is likely to be found. In the 

 present state of knowledge concerning the subject the only rational 

 treatment to be recommended is that of confinement and feeding with a 

 nutritious diet. By separating the locoed sheep at once from other sheep 

 the spreading of the habit will be prevented, and the locoed animals may 

 be fattened and thus prevented from becoming a total loss. Although 

 locoed animals may readily be fattened and sold for mutton, their 

 recovery from the loco habit is apparent only, and is due to their 

 inability to obtain the loco weed. Such animals when allowed to run 

 upon the range again almost invariably return to their old habit of 

 eating loco weed. Animals which have once been locoed are, therefore, 

 unsuitable for stocking the range. 



In combatting the loco disease the most rational methods include 

 providing salt for the sheep, the immediate removal of locoed sheep 

 from the band, confining them in a fold, and feeding them upon a 

 nutritious diet. They may thus be fed for market, and their pernicious 

 habit will not spread to other sheep. In the case of locoed horses, an 

 apparent recovery takes place if they are confined in a stable and fed on 

 ordinary cultivated forage or allowed to run in pastures where no loco 

 weeds are found. Such horses are always somewhat dangerous, and 

 more apt to run away or become unmanageable than horses which have 

 not become affected with this disease. 



* Crotalaria sagittalis. — The rattlebox (rattle weed ; wild pea) is an 

 annual weed which grows on sandy soil throughout most of the eastern 

 half of the United States. In some jeavH it is especially abundant in the 

 bottom lands of the Missouri Valley. Horses and sometimes cattle are 

 killed in this region by eating grass or meadow hay which is contami- 

 nated with the plant. 



