14 
BULLETIN 1391, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
Fig 
9. — Cow No. 868 showing extreme 
depression and weakness 
Temperature. — The temperature remains practically normal dur- 
ing the most of the illness, but in some fatal cases there was a marked 
fall shortly before death. 
Respiration. — The respiration in 
the sick animals a short time 
before death was very charac- 
teristic. It was labored, a pro- 
longed inspiration being followed 
by a pause and then a short and 
somewhat forcible expiration. In 
^till later stages the animal breathed 
in a series of gasps. 
Trembling. — Trembling is al- 
most always present and may be 
considered a diagnostic symptom. 
This is recognized by the stock- 
men, who sometimes call the dis- 
ease " the trembles." This varies from a slight twitching of the 
muscles, most commonly in the fore quarters, to a violent shaking of 
the whole body. These periods of trembling are brought on by 
exercise and are liable to continue until the animal gets down and has 
a period of rest. In some of the cases the breath of the animal had a 
distinct odor of acetone. 
Death quiet. — Some of the animals kicked about a little before 
death, but did not have distinct spasms, and more frequently died 
without struggles. In some of the fatal cases the animals lay in a 
condition of coma for a considerable period before death. 
EXAMINATIONS OF URINE 
Analyses of urine were made by J. F. Couch, chemist of the 
Pathological Division, cooperating in poisonous-plant investigations, 
in a number of the Aplopappus cases. Table 2 gives the detailed 
data of these examinations. 
The total number of samples analyzed was 20, and comprised 
specimens from 13 cases. Six of the specimens were from cattle 
and 14 from sheep. All these ani- 
mals had given evidence of Aplo- 
pappus poisoning before the sam- 
ples were collected. Three samples 
were collected at autopsy; 7 sam- 
ples were obtained by penning the 
animal in the metabolism cage dur- 
ing 24 hours (in one case 48 hours) , 
and the remaining 10 samples con- 
sisted of one voiding each. 
The data show the following 
significant facts. Twelve of the 
samples, or 60 per cent, were acid 
in reaction. Five gave positive tests for albumin. There was but one 
positive test for sugar. Fourteen of the samples were tested for the 
presence of acetone; 13 samples reacted positively, and only 1 was 
negative. Thus in 92.86 per cent of the tests acetone was found. 
In general, then, it may be said that the urine from animals sick 
with Aplopappus poisoning will very probably be acid in reaction, 
Fig. 10. — Cow No. 808 just before death 
