14 BULLETIN 800, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGEICTJLTURE. 



animal being unable to get upon its feet between about 9 o'clock 

 and 11.30 a. m. Figure 3, taken at 10.30 a. m., shows the horse in 

 the midst of one of its spasms. Figure -i, taken at 11.2-1 a. m., shows 

 a very characteristic attitude in which the horse draws its head back, 

 baring its teeth. Generally sx)eaking, in the spasms the head was 

 drawn back in the x^osition of opisthotonos, or the head was 

 drawn close to the breast. The animal was not quiet more than 5 

 or 10 minutes at any time. At 11.39 a. m., it got upon its feet, moved 

 a short distance, and then fell again. This was repeated a number 

 of times before 12 o'clock and at 12.17 it was again able to get upon 

 its feet and staggered across the corral, but immediately fell, going 

 down with considerable violence. This was repeated two or three 

 times before 1 o'clock p. m. Figure 5, taken at 1.03 p. m., shows 

 the animal in one of these brief intervals when he was upon his feet. 

 At 1.35 p. m. it was noticed that the walking movements, w:hich 

 were seen very markedly in sheep, were noticeable and later be- 

 came more rapid, so that between 2 and 3 o'clock the movements of 

 the legs were much like those made by an animal in running. Dur- 

 ing this time the animal, when down, was always on its right side 

 and moved its head back and forth upon the ground with such vio- 

 lence as to result eventually in the loss of sight in the right eye. 



The condition of the horse remained practically the same through 

 the remainder of the afternoon and evening. The last observation 

 was made ptt 10,45 p. m. At 2.30, 3.10, and- 4.40 one grain of arecolin 

 was given subcutaneously. It was noticed at the last observation in 

 the evening that it would attempt to eat hay which was placed before 

 it. The first observation on August 1 was at 7.15 a. m., and at that 

 time the horse was in practically the same position as when left the 

 night before. T\nien disturbed it rolled upon its belly, but had great 

 difficulty in maintaining that position. At 7.25 it was found standing, 

 being especially weak in the hind legs. At 8 o'clock it walked into 

 the next corral and drank water copiously. 



Plate Ya, figure 6, taken at 8.45, shows the general attitude of the 

 animal when standing. It continued to improve and remained on 

 its feet during the day, gradually reaching almost complete re- 

 covery. It was noticed, however, that at different times, a month 

 later, when he was being driven, he would suddenly fall with con- 

 siderable violence. It was thought at the time that these falls were 

 partly due to defective eyesight, as he was practically blind in the 

 right eye. As it is possible that a permanent systemic injury was 

 produced bj^ the Asclepias poisoning, the animal was kept under ob- 

 servation another year. Wliether the arecolin had any marked effect 

 in aiding in recovery is a matter of doubt. It is a fact, however, 

 that the animal was very sick, and the experience with other animals 

 shows that most cases end fatally. It is possible, therefore, that the 



