Loco 409 



suffering for water, it seems to be afraid to approach 

 a tank for fear of falling in. 



Locoed cattle do not shed the hair readil}' in the 

 spring, and in midsummer they can be distinguished by 

 the ragged patches of old hair which are still clinging. 

 As the disease progresses, the animal becomes much 

 emaciated and there is dropsical swelling of the head 

 and legs and other dependent parts of the body. 



Locoed horses exhibit the same general symptoms as 

 cattle and sheep. They are uneasy and "weave about" 

 when standing, and can be led or pulled along only 

 with much difficulty. A straw, stick or shadow across 

 the path may cause a locoed horse to sheer violently to 

 one side or jump several feet high in order to clear the 

 imaginary obstacle. If allowed to stare at it a few mo- 

 ments until it comprehends the nature of the object, it 

 Avill usuall}' pass it freely. Locoed horses are subject to 

 fits, or "crazy spells." These fits are especially liable to 

 occur when the animal is working and the day is warm. 

 During the paroxysm, the animal is delirious, and may 

 rear and plunge violently, often falling to the ground 

 in an unconscious condition, the eyes rolling in their 

 sockets or turning so as to expose the whites. These 

 fits usually last but a short time. It is generally con- 

 sidered that a locoed horse, although deprived of the 

 loco weed until broken of the habit, seldom amounts to 

 anything afterward on account of its tendency to have 

 fits. Locoed cattle and sheep do not feed well, and can 

 be fattened only with difficulty. 



It was formerly supposed that loco resulted from 

 some poisonous substance found in the plant, but thor- 



