GENERAL REPORT. 43 



Oxytropis Lamberti,* Pursh, in Colorado; and Astragalus Hornii and 

 Astragalus lentiginosus var. Fremontii, in California, are known as loco- 

 plants. The term loco, simply meaning foolish, is applied because of the pe- 

 culiar form of dementia induced in the animals that are in the habit of eating 

 the plant. In Arizona, I was told that Hosackia Purshiana produces effects 

 similar to the above plants, but I have no certain knowledge concerning it. 



Whether the animals (horses chiefly) begin to eat the plant from neces- 

 sity (which is not likely) or from choice, I am unable to say. Certain it is, 

 however, that once commenced, they continue it, passing through temporary 

 intoxication to a complete nervous and muscular wreck in the later stages, 

 when it has developed into a fully marked disease, which terminates in 

 death from starvation or inability to digest a more nourishing food. The 

 animal toward the last becomes stupid or wild, or even vicious, or again 

 acting as though attacked with "blind staggers". 



Dr. Horatio Wood, jr., has recently brought to light (Phila. Med. 

 Times, vol vii, p. 510) a new alkaloid in Sojahora speciosa, Benth. This 

 he names sophoria. In its action it resembles Calabar bean. This alkaloid 

 is a spinal sedative, producing death through the respiration. One-twentieth 

 of a grain of an impure specimen of this alkaloid produced a profound 

 sleep, lasting many hours, in a half-grown cat. Mr. Bellinger, of Texas, 

 states that the Indians near San Antonio use it as an intoxicant, half a bean 

 producing "delirious exhilaration followed by a sleep which lasts two or 

 three days"; and it is asserted that a whole bean would kill a man. 



Mr. Lemmon has noted Astragalus Mortoni "as a deadly sheep poison" 

 in California. See Brewer & Watson, Bot. Cal., vol. i, p. 155. 



This order (Leguminosce) was, until lately, regarded as on the whole 

 rather innocuous, but recent discoveries have brought to light quite a num- 

 ber of plants of bad repute. 



Cercocarpus ledifolius, Nutt. Mountain Mahogany. — Growing in 

 the mountains of California to be a tree twenty feet or more high. The 

 wood when dry is dark-colored and excessively hard. It may yet be made 

 available in the arts, as the wood takes a beautiful polish. 



* The alcoholic extract of this plant failed, when hypodermically injected by Dr. H. C. Wood, to 

 produce poisonous symptoms in the lower animals. He hence concludes it is a mistake to regard it as 

 one of "the " loco plants ". 



