62 



PASTORAL AND AGRICULTURAL BOTANY 



Recently also Delphinium bicolor, D. Menziesii, and D. Nelsonii 

 have been found to yield an alkaloid, delphocurarin, which has been in- 

 troduced as a substitute for curare in vivisection work, and this introduc- 

 tion is indorsed by Lohmann's work. Methyl delphinin is said also to 

 possess this curare-like action. 



Symptoms. Froggatt states that the common garden larkspur will 

 kill locusts and advises planting them in masses around gardens as a pro- 



PIG. 24. Sheep feeding upon larkspur (Delphinium Menziesii). (After Marsh, 

 C. Dwight, Clawson, A. B. and Marsh, Hadleigh: Larkspur Poisoning of Livestock. Bulle- 

 tin 365, U. S. Department of Agriculture, September 8, 1916, Plate XV, Fig. I.) 



tective measure against insects as the locusts and the grasshopper. Other 

 species kill maggots and ticks. 



The animals affected show symptoms similar to those produced by 

 overdoses of aconite. There is general stiffness and irregularity of gait 

 as the first symptoms. The hind legs show pronounced straddling (Fig. 

 25) and these actions become more pronounced until locomotion becomes 

 difficult or impossible, and the animal finally falls to the ground, making 

 attempts to get upon its feet, the movements being more and more irregu- 



