22 BTILLETIlSr 800, U. S. DEPAETMEXT OF AGRICULTURE. 



the body. Clonic spasms, often with the typical drawing of the head 

 to the thorax, are observed some time after the general convulsions 

 have commenced. Wlien resting between spasms the animal usually 

 lies stretched out with the head in opisthotonos. All the animals 

 which exhibited spasms eventually died. The autopsy showed, in 

 general, hearts in diastole with surface vessels full, lungs normal, 

 liver, spleen, and kidneys usually normal, digestive tract normal, 

 often containing much gas, central nervous system congested. This 

 is similar to the typical picture in cases of range poisoning. 



A second general tj^pe of cases is produced by the glucosid that 

 was isolated from the water-soluble fraction of the alcohol ex- 

 tract by chloroform after making the solution alkaline. This type 

 of case is not observed on the range because the quantity of the 

 causative agent contained in a toxic dose of the plant is too small 

 to assert itself over the spasmodic substance. Animals drenched with 

 solutions of this glucosid are completelj^ narcotized within a few 

 minutes of the administration of the dose: they fall upon the side 

 and are indifferent to stimuli. The respiration is deep and regular 

 and the heart beat is normal. Animals remain in this condition for 

 several hours and finally die with symptoms of respiratory paralysis. 

 On autops}^ these animals frequently show congestion of the digestive 

 tract and of the central nervous system, but in some cases the brain 

 and cord appeared normal. 



The third general type of poisoning is produced by the glucosid 

 which is not extracted from the aqueous solution of the alcoholic 

 extract by chloroform. In these cases the animal shows no marked 

 symptoms for several hours after the administration of the dose. 

 Then there is evidence of weakness which continues, the animal 

 loses weight rapidly, finally goes down upon the belly with the legs 

 sprawled out, and dies in from 5 to 7 days after the drench. The 

 autopsy in these cases does not furnish typical lesions; usually all 

 the organs appear normal, but occasionally there is fullness in the 

 central nervous system. Range cases do not show this type of intoxi- 

 cation for the same reason adduced in the case of the second type. 



EXPERIMENTAL. 



The following account of some typical experiments furnishes an 

 indication of the general methods employed in the chemical investi- 

 gation, leaving the more extended and detailed description for future 

 publication. 



Moisture, ash, and extract determirhation. — The material used for 

 these determinations was dried Asclepia.s galioides collected in July, 

 1918, at Paonia, Colo., and reduced to a No. 60 powder. 



Per cent. 



Moistui-e 6. 22 



Ash ^ 11. 38 



