410 The Diseases of Animals 
Animals usually begin to eat the loco plants during 
the winter and spring, when other food is scarce. 
Loco weeds remain somewhat green throughout the win- 
ter season, and, though they do not seem palatable at 
first, yet animals eating them under force of circum- 
stances soon acquire the taste, and afterward will leave 
other food to go in search of them. 
As soon as animals acquire a taste for loco, they lag 
behind the herd or wander away in search of their favor- 
ite food. They will often remain by themselves in 
localities where loco weed is abundant, and may go 
several days without water. They crop it close to the 
ground, often getting a portion of the root. Having 
acquired a taste for the loco weed, the animal falls 
away in flesh rapidly, and, as the difficulty pro- 
gresses, they become so emaciated that in the last 
stages they are unable to stand or move about, and, 
unless otherwise destroyed, die of starvation. In 
the early stages, there is general sluggishness, diffi- 
eult locomotion, and a stiff and stilted action of the 
legs, with trembling of the voluntary muscles. If an 
animal lies down and then attempts to rise, several 
efforts may be required, and it may turn a complete 
somersault before gaining its feet. The head trembles 
violently, and the animal may hold its mouth open for 
atime. There is usually a peculiar, vacant stare. The 
animal receives impressions through the eye, but does 
not seem to comprehend them, and will often stand 
for some time staring at a familiar object, exhibiting 
symptoms of fear, until the true nature of the object 
xeems to dawn upon its brain. Sometimes, although 
