LARKSPUR POISONING OF LIVE STOCK. 79 



larger. On one day this animal received almost twice as much as 

 was given to No. 112 on the second day when it became ill. 



While these two cases can not be considered as furnishing positive 

 proof that the administration of magnesium sulphate will prevent 

 the action of larkspur, the results were very significant. 



In connection with this case, comparisons may be made with some 

 others. No. 606, a heifer, weighing about 450 pounds, belonging to 

 Otis Moore, was fed, between August 28 and September 6, 195 pounds 

 of Delphinium 'barbeyi^ or, on the basis of 1,000 pounds of weight, 

 434.8 pounds. Part of this material was collected at Kebler Pass 

 and was green. A smaller part, about 50 pounds, was collected near 

 the station and was older and drier. This feeding was of leaves and 

 stems without the seeds. She was given 4 ounces of magnesium 

 sulphate in the drinking water on August 30 and September 3. No 

 poisonous effects were noticed. 



At the same time, August 28 and 29, No. 605 was fed 29^ pounds, 

 or, on the basis of 1,000 pounds weight, 66.5 pounds, and became sick. 

 The material fed was of stems and seeds of Delphinium harheyi. 

 It should be borne in mind, however, in comparing Nos. 605 and 606, 

 that the seeds are more toxic than the leaves and stems, as has been 

 shown elsewhere, and that it is possible the result in the case of No. 

 605 may have been caused by the larger number of seeds in the 

 feeding. 



With this, however, may be compared No. 98, which, between Sep- 

 tember 18 and 25, received 357.25 pounds, or, on the basis of 1,000 

 pounds' weight, 776.6 pounds of Delphinium^ harbey% collected at 

 Kebler Pass. This material included not only stems and leaves, but 

 the seeds. The animal ate a very large proportion of its own weight 

 of larkspur. Four ounces of magnesium sulphate in its drinking 

 water were given every day between September 18 and 25, inclusive, 

 the effect of this being to keep the action of the bowels in very nearly 

 a normal condition. The animal was not affected at all by the poison- 

 ous material eaten. » 



Summing up these cases, then, it would appear that it is very prob- 

 able that the injurious effects of larkspur eating might not appear 

 if means were taken to produce free movement of the bowels in the 

 animals feeding upon the plant, and it indicates also that if some 

 remedy could be used which, in the beginning of the poisoning, would 

 quickly stimulate the intestinal excretion it might serve to save the 

 lives of the animals. 



Inasmuch as the work of 1909 at the Mount Carbon station brought 

 out very clearly the fact that one of the most prominent symptoms 

 connected with larkspur poisoning was constipation, and also showed 

 very clearly that death resulted primarily from respiratory paralysis, 



