LAEKSPUE POISOira^G OF LIVE STOCK. 81 



poisoning in 1910, as there were distinct symptoms of strychnin 

 poisoning. Smaller doses were tried with some of the cases of 1911, 

 but they were less effective and the two fatal cases in this season, 

 when this remedy was used, are considered as due to the use of an 

 insufficient amount of the remedy. It is possible that a heavier 

 dosage of physostigmin salicylate and pilocarpin hydrochlorid 

 might be used, but experience seemed to show that the pain connected 

 with the more rapid action of this remedy more than counterbalanced 

 its advantage. The results of the sunmiers of 1910 and 1911 ap^ 

 peared to show quite conclusively that the hypodermic injection of 

 this combination would aid in the recovery of most animals. The at- 

 tempt was made to use arecolin in place of the physostigmin and 

 pilocarpin but the results were very unsatisfactory. 



It was found that a distinct benefit resulted from the use of hypo- 

 dermic injections of 20 cubic centimeters or more of whisky or a 

 corresponding amount of 50 per cent alcohol. This stimulant was 

 given to tide over a time when the animal might otherwise collapse. 

 It was not found desirable to give the whisky in all cases but only 

 as the symptoms seemed to demand it. 



In passing, perhaps a word should be said in regard to the ordi- 

 nary remedy of bleeding used among the stockmen for larkspur 

 poisoning. This was not attempted in the station work, because there 

 seemed to be no good reason for the proceedii^g. It is barely possible 

 that at the critical stage of larkspur poisoning, with the heart about 

 to stop, bleeding might stimulajbe it to further action. It was not 

 found, however, in the station experiments that the symptoms at any 

 time definitely indicated this as a desirable measure. Indiscriminate 

 bleeding for larkspur poisoning is probably worse than useless and 

 does much more harm than good. Among stockmen the claim is 

 frequently made that 50 per cent of the sick cases may be saved by 

 bleeding. It may be questioned whether this number might not re- 

 cover without any treatment. Dr. Sanford, of Gunnison, Colo., a 

 physician of long and successful experience in a stock country, states 

 that, he has bled a large number of animals poisoned by larkspur and 

 has no evidence of beneficial results. 



Bleeding is the common remedy used by stock people for many of 

 the ills affecting their animals, and is considered especially effica- 

 cious in cases of illness resulting from eating poisonous plants. 

 While it did not seem worth while to test it out in the larkspur 

 poisoning of cattle, it was used experimentally with sheep poisoned 

 by Zygadenus (death camas), as stated in Bulletin 125, with no 

 benefit. 



^ Summarizing, then, the work of the station upon remedies, no defi- 

 nite advantageous results were obtained with potassium permanga- 

 26876°— Bull. 365—16-^ 6 



