82 BULLETIN" 365^ U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGEICULTUEE. 



nate, atropin, or the combination of barium chlorid with caffein, 

 sodio-benzoate and strychnin. The combination of physostigmin 

 salicylate, pilocarpin hydrochlorid, and strychnin sulphate, used 

 . hypodermically, and supplemented as symptoms demand by hypo- 

 dermic injections of whisky or dilute alcohol, would seem in the ma- 

 jority of cases to produce beneficial effects. These remedies can be 

 easily administered by stockmen upon the range, as they can be car- 

 ried in solution in small compass and administered by the hypo- 

 dermic syringe, with the use of which most stockmen are familiar. 

 It can not be too strongly stated that when cattle fall from larkspur 

 poisoning no attempt should be made to get them upon their feet, or, 

 if they get upon their feet themselves, care must be taken that they 

 should not be hurried under any circumstances. Many of the ani- 

 mals when poisoned, if allowed to lie quietly with no other attention 

 than to be turned so that the head will be higher than the rest of 

 the body, will recover. 



As has been stated elsewhere, bloating seldom occurs in cases of 

 larkspur poisoning. If it does, it should be relieved by j^aunching, 

 and every stockman should be provided with a trocar to perform this 

 operation. 



METHODS OF PREVENTING LARKSPUR POISONING., 



It is recognized that under ordinary range conditions many cases 

 of larkspur poisoning occur which can not be prevented. The cattle 

 are not under direct observation and may not be seen for weeks or 

 months, and the first intimation of trouble is when the rider, in going 

 over the range, finds bodies of animals that may have died long 

 before. There is no opportunity to apply a remedy. It is possible, 

 however, to save many cattle by proper handling in accordance with 

 the conditions of the ranges upon which they are grazed. 



From the fact that the low larkspur dies early in July and ceases 

 to be a factor in poisoning, it is very evident that if the cattle can be 

 kept away from this plant until about July 1 there probably will be 

 no fatalities. This has been recognized very generally by the stock- 

 men. In some localities on the western slope of the Rocky Moun- 

 tains in Colorado " riding for poison " is a regular business among 

 the stockmen during the month of June. By this " riding " the cattle 

 are kept below the poisonous area until after the plants blossom. In 

 some localities, also, through the instrumentality of the Forest Serv- 

 ice, drift fences have been erected for the same purposes. 



There seems to be no question that if cattle can be kept away from 

 the areas of low larkspur until the plant matures there will be no 

 losses, but if they are permitted to graze freely upon these areas loss 

 is almost certain to occur. These looses, of course, will be greater 



