RAYLESS GOLDENROD AS A POISONOUS PLANT 23 
on or aggravated by severe exercise, and that patients well on the 
road to recovery sometimes have serious relapses as the result of 
more or less severe muscular exercise. 
EFFECT OF STERILIZED PLANT 
Because of the theory held by some that the " alkali disease " is 
produced by bacterial infection it was thought best to feed some 
sterilized material. The plant was prepared by being autoclaved 
at 8 pounds pressure for 20 minutes, followed by 12 pounds for 
17 minutes. Unfortunately, cultures were not made to prove the 
completeness of sterilization. Inasmuch, however, as with the means 
of heating — a primus burner — it took nearly an hour to get the 
initial pressure, the plant must have been pretty well penetrated by 
the steam, and it may be assumed perhaps that the sterilization was 
complete. 
This plant material was fed to sheep No. 563 and produced the 
same effect as the untreated plant. So far as the evidence of this 
single experiment goes it tends to confirm the belief that the poison- 
ous effect is produced not by bacteria but by the toxic principles of 
the plant. 
EFFECT OF EATING GRASS WITH THE APLOPAPPUS 
Several of the animals received with the Aplopappus more or less 
grass. Sheep Nos. 566 and 495 were kept in pasture during the 
experimental feeding. Sheep Nos. 701, 563, and 373 and cattle Nos. 
868, 892, and 840 received cut grass in the feeding pens. 
Taken as a whole, these animals were not so readily poisoned as 
those that were kept on dry feed. Cow No. 892 became sick in the 
feeding pens and recovered while still eating Aplopappus and cut 
grass. Sheep No. 563, which became sick while eating Aplopappus 
and hay in the pens, recovered after being put on pasture. 
The question of the effect of grass feeding is complicated by the 
fact that cattle Nos. 868, 892, and 840 and sheep Nos. 701, 495, and 
373 were giving milk, and (as shown on page 22) more or less of the 
toxic substance is excreted in the milk. It was evident, however, that 
grass feeding tended to delay the production of symptoms and to aid 
in recovery, presumably owing to the laxative effect of the grass 
feeding. 
Stock eat the rayless goldenrod only when confined to pastures 
where there is little good forage; hence the obvious remedy is to see 
that the animals are adequately fed. 
DESTRUCTION OF THE PLANT 
Aplopappus grows in great luxuriance in some places, but appar- 
ently it is not extremely difficult to dig it out of pastures. J. C. 
Camp, of Pecos, Tex., stated to one of the writers in the fall of 1919 
that he cleaned a pasture seven years before, and not only had no 
trouble with his livestock kept there since that time but only a few 
plants had appeared. The plants were dug out to a depth of 2 or 3 
inches. Similar testimony was obtained from persons living near 
Carlsbad, N. Mex. 
The writers have had no opportunity to perform experimental 
work in eradication, but it seems probable from the evidence they 
have obtained that not only is eradication from pastures practically 
possible but also that it is the best way of combating the trouble. 
