LARKSPUR POISOlSriNG OF LIVE STOCK. 5 



although the animal recovered rather quickly. After expressing the 

 watery material from the plant the alcohol extract of the residue was 

 fed to a sheep. Symptoms of the effect of the alcohol were noted, 

 but by comparison with a check which received the same amount of 

 alcohol, it was decided that some of the symptoms were character- 

 istic of larkspur poisoning. Two other experiments were made in 

 which it was believed by the authors that the antidote used, potassium 

 permanganate, overcame the effect of the poison. The discussion of 

 tall larkspur is summarized as follows, page 73 : 



The tall larkspur is a plant widely distributed in Montana, occurring, as a 

 rule, in well-defined areas, especially on mountain ranges. 



It has for several years been suspected of poisoning cattle, especially after 

 snowstorms in spring and autumn. 



Our observations show that the plant is sometimes eaten by cattle with 

 fatal results. Extracts of the leaves of young plants, when fed to rabbits, 

 produce alarming symptoms, and the same was true in one case when fed to 

 sheep. 



Experiments on cattle and one sheep indicated that permanganate of potash 

 is an effective antidote when given in the first stages of poisoning. 



Cattle should *be kept away from patches of larkspur, especially during snow- 

 storms. 



The following summary is given of the discussion in regard to 

 purple larkspur, page 80 : 



The purple larkspur is a plant which is widely distributed in Montana, espe- 

 cially on foothills and mountains, where its deep-blue fiowers are conspicuous 

 over wide areas in springtime. For a number of years it has been considered 

 fatal to sheep and occasionally to other stock and this view has been confirmed 

 by our investigations. Sheep are more often poisoned by purple larkspur than 

 are other domestic animals. Our observations during the past few years have 

 shown a striking variation in the appetite of sheep with reference to this point. 



Our experiments indicate that both the leaves and roots of young plants are 

 poisonous and that the plant is most dangerous during the early stages of growth 

 before flowering. 



The previous experience of one of us has shown that atropine is the best 

 antidote for counteracting the physiological effect of this plant. Permanga- 

 nate of potash and sulphate of aluminum should be administered as a chemical 

 antidote. 



Bessey, 1902, says that there have been serious losses in western 

 Nebraska from. DelphiniuTn nelsonii Greene, and that the losses occur 

 before the flowering of the plant. Slade, 1903, speaks briefly of 

 Delphinium, the statements apparently being largely compiled from 

 the work of Wilcox. Blankinship, 1903, describes briefly the tall 

 and the low larkspurs. He says that larkspur frequently causes 

 bloat, and gives other symptoms of poisoning, stating that cattle are 

 mainly affected, sheep more rarely. He advises keeping stock away 

 from ranges where low larkspur is abundant, especially during the 

 early spring, and states that it is feasible to dig up the tall larkspur 

 over limited areas. 



