278 WESTERN GRAZING GROUNDS AND FOREST RANGES 



cular spasms. The animal will run wildly in any direc- 

 tion in which it gets started, never going far, owing 

 probably to the severity of the pains. Death conies 

 quickly, sometimes in fifteen minutes after eating the 

 plant. Any efforts toward saving the animal must 

 therefore be immediate. 



If available give hypodermic injections of morphine 

 in one-fourth grain doses, or one-half ounce chloral hy- 

 drate divided into three fifteen-minute doses. Also give 

 the permanganate of potash drench. Where medicines 

 are not available, and this is usually the case in this 

 trouble, open the stomach of cattle as for bloat, and 

 with the hands pull out the contents. This simply re- 

 moves the poisonous matter from the stomach and if 

 done soon enough may save the animal. After this has 

 been done, give injections of melted lard, oil or even 

 warm water, to move the bowels and carry off any re- 

 maining poisonous material. 



Opening the stomach is not a serious matter, and 

 this rough and ready surgery may save some valuable 

 milk cow which would otherwise be lost. A few stitches 

 in the cut to draw the sides together and a little tar or 

 grease on the wound to keep flies away are all that 

 need be done. It is remarkable how quickly an animal 

 thus treated will recover and go to grazing again as 

 if nothing unusual had happened. 



Oaks. Symptoms : The animals are weak and stand 

 in one spot for hours, unless forced to move. In appear- 

 ance they resemble locoed animals; the sunken eyes, 

 grinding teeth and hair all set the wrong way being 

 very like the conditions in loco. There is high fever with 

 hard, labored breathing. The skin on the lips and nose 

 is cracked and blistered from the fever. 



