POISONS AND POISONING. 65 



heart should be counteracted by the use of ammonia, digitalis, alcohol, 

 camphor, or other diffusible stimulants, which have a physiological 

 effect opposite to aconite. 



TURPENTINE POISONING. 



Many conifers, but especially some species of pines, contain tur- 

 pentine. In the winter and early spring the ends of the branches of 

 such trees may be eaten by cattle. If a sufficient quantity is con- 

 sumed, poisoning may result. 



Symptoms.— The symptoms signify more or less severe irritation of 

 the digestive and urinary tracts. There is poor appetite, abdominal 

 pain, emaciation, dark urine, which may contain blood, difficulty in 

 passing urine, constrained attitude, and sensitiveness to pressure 

 over the loins. Later there may be excitation followed by depression 

 of the nervous system. 



Treatment— Change food. Give linseed tea, barley gruel, or slip- 

 pery-elm bark infusion. For the excitement give chloral hydrate or 

 bromid of potash. 



DIETETIC POISONS. 



A small but important group of poisons may be classed under this 

 head. In some cases it is poison naturally belonging to the plant; in 

 other cases the poisonous principle is developed in what would other- 

 wise be harmless plants as a plant disease, or as a fermentation or 

 putrefaction due to bacterial growth and observed in forage, grain, or 

 meal that has heated, become damaged, or "spoilt." 



Loco weed poisoning.— The " loco weed " is a term applied to legu- 

 minous plants of several genera, all of which are supposed to have 

 certain similar effects on horses and cattle. It is found on the Plains 

 and in the natural pastures of some of our Western States and Terri- 

 tories. The plant grows on high, gravelly^ or sandy soil. It has a 

 rather attractive appearance, and retains its soft, pale green color all 

 winter. Of one of the most common species (AstragaMus moUissimus) 

 it may be said that a mass of leaves 4 to 10 inches high grow from the 

 very short stem. The leaves are pinnate, similar in form to those of 

 a locust tree, with ten pairs of leaflets and an odd terminal one. The 

 • • flower scape grows from the center of the plant. The flowers, shaped 

 like pea blossoms, appear in June or July, and are yellow tinted with 

 violet. The seeds are contained in a pod about half an inch long. 

 It is said that a stalk-boring larva has attacked the plant and seems 

 to be doing much toward eradicating it. 



Horses and cattle seem to acquire a taste for loco weeds, although 

 it is not a plant that would be considered as a food or that would be 

 eaten with a relish the first time. In the early spring, when herbage 

 is scarce, its green appearance may attract the animal, and the habit 

 of eating it be thus acquired. Its effect is not noticeable till a con- 

 61386—08 5 



