PEA FAMILY. 69 



were observed and forcible grinding of the jaws, these 

 symptoms preceding a spell of walking. The pulse, at 

 first irregular, became normal on the second day, and 

 later very rapid and weak. Respiration also became pro- 

 gressively more rapid during the course of the disease. 

 Death occurred on the morning of the fourth day, after 

 a period characterized by muscular twitchings and in- 

 ability to stand. 



No satisfactory cure has been found for loco disease. 

 Sheep that have acquired the habit, if taken in time, 



may be removed from Loco-infested areas 

 Treatment 



and converted into mutton by the use of plen- 

 tiful feed of a succulent nature. They should never be re- 

 turned to the range, however, as they will at once begin 

 again to eat the Loco. Horses that have been affected 

 are never safe afterward, becoming frightened or vicious 

 at most unexpected times- 



Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been spent in 

 attempts to rid the sheep ranges of Loco Weeds, but the 

 p . results have been unsatisfactory. If care is 

 taken to remove at once any sheep that 

 has become locoed, no great losses will occur. One ex- 

 perienced sheepman is said by Chesnut and Wilcox to 

 have lost so many sheep from Loco Weed that he decided 

 not to continue the business. He sold his ranch to a 

 stranger, who stocked it with sheep from another part 

 of the country and had no trouble. The new flock con- 

 tained no locoed animals from which the healthy ones 

 could learn the habit. 



There are thirty-four species of Oxytropis listed from 



western North America and of these twelve are reported 



from parts of Canada. Several have been 



The Plants , 



proved poisonous, the one most commonly 



blamed being Oxytropis Lamberti Pursh. All species 



