LARKSPUR POISONING OF LIVE STOCK. 81 
poisoning in 1910, as there were distinct symptoms of strychnin 
poisoning. Smaller doses were tried with some of the cases of 1911, 
but they were less effective and the two fatal cases in this season, 
when this remedy was used, are considered as due to the use of an 
insufficient amount of the remedy. It is possible that a heavier 
dosage of physostigmin salicylate and pilocarpin hydrochlorid 
might be used, but experience seemed to show that the pain connected 
with the more rapid action of this remedy more than counterbalanced 
its advantage. The results of the summers of 1910 and 1911 ap- 
peared to show quite conclusively that the hypodermic injection of 
this combination would aid in the recovery of most animals. The at- 
tempt was made to use arecolin in place of the physostigmin and 
pilocarpin but the results were very unsatisfactory. 
It was found that a distinct benefit resulted from the use of hypo- 
dermic injections of 20 cubic centimeters or more of whisky or a 
corresponding amount of 50 per cent alcohol. This stimulant was 
given to tide over a time when the animal might otherwise collapse. 
It was not found desirable to give the whisky in all cases but only 
as the symptoms seemed to demand it. 
In passing, perhaps a word should be said in regard to the ordi- 
nary remedy ' of bleeding used among the stockmen for larkspur 
poisoning. This was not attempted in the station work, because there 
seemed to be no good reason for the proceeding. It is barely possible 
that at the critical stage of larkspur poisoning, with the heart about 
to stop, bleeding might stimulate it to further action. It was not 
found, however, in the station experiments that the symptoms at any 
time definitely indicated this as a desirable measure. Indiscriminate 
bleeding for larkspur poisoning is probably worse than useless and 
does much more harm than good. Among stockmen the claim is 
frequently made that 50 per cent of the sick cases may be saved by 
bleeding. It may be questioned whether this number might not re- 
cover without any treatment. Dr. Sanford, of Gunnison, Colo., a 
physician of long and successful experience in a stock country, states 
that he has bled a large number of animals poisoned by larkspur and 
has no evidence of beneficial results. 
Bleeding is the common remedy used by stock people for many of 
the ills affecting their animals, and is considered especially effica- 
cious in cases of illness resulting from eating poisonous plants. 
While it did not seem worth while to test it out in the larkspur 
poisoning of cattle, it was used experimentally with sheep poisoned 
by Zygadenus (death camas), as stated in Bulletin 125, with no 
benefit. 
Summarizing, then, the work of the station upon remedies, no defi- 
nite advantageous results were obtained with potassium permanga- 
26876°— Bull. 365—16 6 
