44 BULLETIN 12 45, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



it is well to put them on the market as soon as possible, for if turned 

 out on the range again there is always a possibility that they may 

 become locoed a second time, with worse results than at first. 



If the animals are valuable enough to justify the time spent in 

 treating them, their recovery will be hastened, in the case of horses, 

 by daily doses of from 15 to 20 cubic centimeters (4 to 6 drams) of 

 Fowler's solution, while cattle may be given hypodermic injections of 

 strychnine. These doses should be continued for at least a month. 

 Care should be taken in the use of strychnine, as locoed animals are 

 very sensitive to its use. It is better that doses for cattle should 

 not exceed three-twentieths or four-twentieths of a grain. Xever, in 

 the case of a large animal, should more than one-half grain be given. 



In the case of locoed sheep upon the range, if the number is small, 

 it is not profitable to spend any time or trouble with them. It is 

 better to slaughter them immediately, as a locoed sheep will teach 

 others the same habit. If, however, a number of locoed sheep can be 

 separated and, like the cattle, be turned into an alfalfa field, most of 

 them are likely to recover. Sheep may be helped by doses of one- 

 twentieth grain of strychnine, but ordinarily, on account of the small 

 value of individual animals, it is not profitable to spend the time 

 necessary to insure their recovery. 



In handling animals in a loco country it should be remembered that 

 all domestic animals are more or less imitative, and loco eaters are 

 likely to teach others to do the same tiling. Therefore, so far as 

 possible, all animals that have acquired the habit of loco eating 

 should be separated from the others. 



THE BUCKTHORN FAMILY (RHAMNACEAE) 



COYOTILLO (KARWIXSKIA HUMBOLDTIAXA) 



Coyotillo is a shrub from 3 to 20 feet in height, growing abundantly 

 in southwestern Texas and found in Lower California and in Mexico. 

 It can be rather readily recognized by the form of the leaves, which 

 are from 1 to 3 inches long, green above, and paler beneath. The 

 leaves and fruit are shown in Plate 30 and a plant at the time of 

 blossoming in Figure 21. The common name in Texas is coyotillo, 

 but it is known by a number of other names, among them being 

 callotia, coyotio, cayote, riventdore, margarita. and gallita. 



Although the leaves are somewhat poisonous, the harmful effects 

 on livestock on the range are produced mainly, if not entirely, by the 

 fruit, and in the latter the poisonous properties are principally in 

 the stones and seed. 



Animals poisoned by coyotillo suffer from paralysis, especially 

 noticeable in the hind legs. Cattle affected by it are popularly said 

 to have the " limber-leg " disease. Apparently it does not produce 

 pain and the poisoned animals may live a long time if supplied with 

 feed and water, although in bad cases they are unable to move about. 

 A chronic condition of more or less complete paralysis is produced, 

 from which the victims may recover, but ordinarily do not. Experi- 

 ments have proved that the plant is poisonous to cattle, sheep, goats, 

 guinea pigs, and chickens, and there are reliable reports of poisoned 

 swine and horses. 



