42 HAY AND FODDER. 
In October, 1898, a snow storm covered the grass, and 
out of a band of 2,500 sheep, 1,150 died from eating the 
Lupines. During the winter of 1898-99 about 7,000 sheep 
in Montana were poisoned. by Lupine hay, and of these 
over 3,600 died. Many more cases of a similar nature 
are recorded, and the evidence leaves no room for doubt 
as to the cause of death. In all cases the Lupines eaten 
bore pods containing mature or nearly mature seed. 
The experiments of Marsh, Clawson and Marsh, taken 
along with those of other investigators, have established 
the fact that poisoning in this country is due almost ex- 
clusively to alkaloids, which are contained in all parts of 
the plant, but are more abundant in the seed. The toxic 
dose of these alkaloids is very nearly as large as the fatal 
dose, and smaller quantities have little or no effect on the 
animals. It thus happens that Lupines and Lupine hay 
containing no seeds may be wholesome and satisfactory 
‘ as a feed, while plants with full pods are deadly poison. 
It has been established that the poison acts on horses, pigs, 
goats and cattle, as well as sheep. Cattle on the range 
usually leave the pods and so are rarely poisoned, but 
sheep eat them greedily. 
The general symptoms of poisoning in the early stages 
are cerebral congestion and great excitement: in experi- 
ments with sheep this showed itself by their 
rushing about and butting and pushing. Later 
the movements become irregular and incoérdinated, with 
Spasms and falling fits. When the animal can no longer 
stay on its feet, convulsions like those caused by strych- 
nin are often evident. The excretions of the kidneys are 
increased and are sometimes bloody. The immediate 
cause of death is usually respiratory paralysis, which or- 
dinarily ensues in a half to one and a half hours. Some- 
Symptoms 
