February 23, 1894. 
SCIUBINGIE 3 
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THE LOCO-WEED. 
BY W. THORNTON PARKER, M.D., GROVELAND, MASS. 
Tue locoplant is regarded by Professor Gray, of 
Harvard University, as the Astragalus legum, a peculiar 
species of the vetch tribe, abundant in the region of the 
“ Texan Panhandle,” and agreeable to cattle and horses, 
but, after having been used for some time by the latter, 
causing a special madness; hence its name, from the 
Spanish ‘‘loco.”” As a food its use renders horses value- 
less, and these seem to suffer most from this plant. It 
seems to have for them the fatal attraction that opium 
has for too many human beings. It has not yet been 
proved that cattle suffer very much, if at all, from this 
poisonous plant. Dr. J. W. Carhart, in a communication 
to the Vew Vork Medical Record concerning the symptoms 
and etiology of this curious affection, states that ‘‘ The 
prominent symptoms seem to be due in part to a loss of 
muscular co-ordination; the horses become weak and stag- 
gering, anda slight blow on the head of an affected animal 
causes him to rear and fall over backwards. ‘The animal 
falls away in flesh, and its coat loses its shining appearance, 
the hair becoming rough and ofadirty color. The brain as 
well as the spinal-cord would seem in certain cases to be 
affected, as it is stated that the animals often become 
absolutely crazy.”. The symptoms of the disease, as I 
have described them ina contribution to the same medical 
journal, agree perfectly with this description of Dr. 
Carhart’s. 
While serving in the Medical Department of the United 
States Army in Texas and New Mexico, I had ample 
Opportunity to witness the poisonous effects of this plant 
on horses. I procured many excellent specimens, with- 
out any difficulty, and sent them to the Smithsonian and 
other institutionsin this country and Europe. The weed 
does not grow as high as has been stated; it rather clings 
to the ground, resting upon it like a flat green mat, about 
the size of a small plate. Even in winter, when the grass 
all about is shrivelled and brown, this plant presents a 
bright velvety appearance, readily attracting the attention 
of horses and other animals, who eagerly devour it. It is 
very important that some investigation should be in- 
stituted, with a view of inaugurating a successful treat- 
ment for this disease. Anyone who has witnessed the 
actions of a locoed horse must have arrived at two con- 
clusions; first that human beings are on account of its 
peculiar manifestations exposed to great bodily danger; 
a locoed horse without any warning starting over dangerous 
SCIENCE. 
1ol 
places or into deep water—in other words, without warn- 
ing becoming unmanageable. The other conclusion is 
that a disease whose cause and symptoms are +so obvious 
and well known ought to be amenable to treatment. My 
own observations and experiments have convinced me 
that the use of the muriat tincture of iron, and in fact one 
or two other drugs, with the accessories of hygienic treat- 
ment, will, if taken in time, act favorably upon the 
animals affected. ‘‘ In view of the evident importance to 
the economical interests of that portion of the country,” 
I think that the Government shouid make the necessary 
experiments. Referring again to my article in the Vew 
Vork Medical Record, ‘‘ The symptoms of the disease, as 
well as the description of the plant which is the apparent 
cause of them, recalls the accounts given by various French 
and Italian writers of lathyrism. This affection presents 
the symptoms of a spastic paralysis of the lower ex- 
tremities, the individuals having a remarkably ataxic 
gait. The sensibility of the skin of the lower extremities 
is greatly increased; there is exaggerated patellar ten- 
don reflex, and the ankle clonus is excited by the slightest 
movement of flexion of the foot. The plant, to the 
poisonous effects of which lathyrism is attributed, is also 
aspecies of vetch, the Lathyrus cicera. The disease attacks 
chiefly men, but horses have also been known to be affected. 
Vision seems to be disturbed in grass staggers, but in 
lathyrism the eyes are unaffected. The poisonous prin- 
ciple of the lathyrus has not been isolated, but experi- 
ments upon animals would seem to show that it resides in 
the healthy plant, and not in a mildew.” 
Lathyrism appears to be a curable disease. It some- 
times subsides spontaneously when care is taken to ex- 
clude the vetch from the diet of the patient, and its dis- 
appearance may be hastened by the administration of 
bromide of potassium in large doses. Revulsive appli- 
cations to the spine are said also to be beneficial. Possibly 
a similar plan of treatment for ‘‘locoed”’ ponies might 
be followed by good results, although there would be some 
difficulty in weaning them from their fondness for the 
poisonous weed. 
—At the meeting of the Chemical Society of Washington 
on Jan. 11, r894, the following officers were elected: 
President, Dr. W. H. Seaman; Vice-Presidents, Mr. A. E. 
Knorr and Professor Charles E. Munroe; Treasurer, Dr. 
E. A. deSchweinitz; Secretary, Dr. A. C. Peale; additional 
members of Executive Committee, Dr. H. W. Wiley, 
Professor F. W. Clarke, Professor R. B. Warder and Mr. 
F. P. Dewey. The following papers were read: ‘‘ Ona 
Supposed Synthetic Sucrose, with Description of Process 
of Making,” by Dr. W. D. Bigelow, and ‘*‘ The Differentia- 
tion of Fats,” with illustrations by Dr. Thomas Taylor. The 
meeting of Feb. 8 was devoted to the annual address of 
the retiring President, Mr. F. P. Dewey, on ‘The 
Aluminium Age.” 
—Those who have read Dr. Charles C. Abbott's 
“*Recent Rambles” will need no urging to take up his 
‘Travels in a Tree-Top,” shortly to appear from the 
Lippincott press. Whether he tells us of what he finds in 
the top of a tremendous oak, or of what he sees from his 
high perch among the leaves; whether he narrates 
amusing stories about corn-stalk fiddles and a Quaker 
grandfather, or the kitchen door of his old home in boy- 
hood times; whether he describes for us a dinner among 
the Indians before Columbus ‘‘arrived,”’ or reminds us 
how the bees and buckwheat of August develop into 
honey and buckwheat cakes for these cool mornings—he 
is equally genial and charming. The volume is to be 
printed on fine paper and in outward appearance will be 
both rich and dainty. 
