THE WHOEJLED MILKWEED AS A POIS03>rOUS PLANT. 37 



There were eleven feedings of steins of material collected at Pali- 

 sades, Colo., the quantity fed varying from 0.147 pomid to 0.404 pound. 

 None of these feedings produced any effect, while one feeding of 

 leaves, Sheep 461, 0.22 pound, caused death, and four feedings. Sheep 

 634, 0.191 pound, Sheep 542, 0.198 pound, Sheep 372, 0.206 pound, and 

 Sheep 522, 0.198 pound produced toxic effect. Of the material col- 

 lected at Eockville, Utah, three feedings of stems in quantities from 

 0.367 pound to 0.477 pound produced no effect, while Sheep 522 was 

 made sick on 0.147 pound of leaves. 



It is not to be inferred that the stems possess no toxic properties, 

 but it seems very clear that the leaves are vastly more poisonous. 



LOCAL VARIATIONS IN TOXICITY. 



In the work of 1919. material was used from three localities, 

 Paonia and Palisades, Colo., and Pockville, Utah. The Paonia 

 material was used only in connection with the chemical work, either 

 an extract or the marc being given. The Paonia collections had been 

 used in 1918, however, showing that as small a quantity as 0.138 pound 

 might produce death. The High Polls material produced death on 

 0.16 pound. The relative toxicity of the Palisades and Rock\nlle 

 material was brought out quite clearly in the experiments of 1919. 

 With the Palisades material death was produced in one case, Sheep 

 461 with 0.22 pound, while symptoms were caused by quantities vary- 

 ing from 0.191 pound to 0.206 pound. With the Pockville material 

 Sheep 522 showed symptoms on 0.147 pound, while the horse was 

 killed by 0.161 pound. That is, to produce intoxication, it took about 

 a third more of the Palisades material than of that collected at 

 Kockville. In this connection it should be noted that Sheep 548 re- 

 ceived 0.176 pound of leaves from Palisades without effect. 



While the Paonia, High Polls, and Eockville materials were about 

 equally toxic, the Palisades plants were much less so. 



These differences in toxicity can not be explained by any seasonal 

 change, and apparently are a local peculiarity. 



REMEDIES. 



Two animals. Sheep 437 and Sheep 506, were treated with atropin 

 and morphin. The latter produced some effect in controlling the vio- 

 lence of the convulsions, but both sheep died and it did not appear 

 that the remedy affected the final result. 



On the theory that free action of the bowels might give relief, 

 Horse 126 was treated with subcutaneous injections of arecolin and 

 recovered. The same remedy was used with Sheep 478, Sheep 492, 

 and Steer 750. Sheep 478 recovered, while Sheep 492 and Steer 750 

 died. 



