STOCK-POISOXIXG PLANTS OF THE EANGE. 25 
Symptoms of Laurel Poisoning. 
The symptoms are practically the same in all cases of laurel poi- 
soning. There is a salivation resulting in frothing at the mouth (fig. 
20), nausea ordinarily accompanied with vomiting, depression, weak- 
ness shown by a staggering gait or inability to stand, and irregular 
respiration. Grinding of the teeth is frequently noticed in sick 
animals. 
Treatment of Laurel Poisoning. 
Little can be done in the way of remedial treatment. Anything 
that will aid in elimination will be of some benefit, and to this end 
purgatives may be given, such as Epsom salt in doses of 4 ounces. 
The main reliance, however, must be placed on prevention. Herders 
should learn to recognize and avoid the plants. 
THE MILKWEED FAMILY (ASCLEPIADACE.E). 
MILKWEEDS (SPECIES OF ASCLEPIAS). 
A large number of species of milkweed are poisonous and cause 
losses of livestock, especially of sheep. 
Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa). 
Perhaps the most common of the milkweeds is the showy milk- 
weed, Asclepias speciosa, shown in Plate XXXI. It is found in all 
of the States west of the Mississippi River. While it has poisonous 
properties, it is not particularly poisonous, is rarely eaten, and prob- 
ably never causes losses of range animals. 
Woolly-Pod Milkweed (Asclepias eriocarpa). 
A broad-leafed milkweed Asclepias eriocarpa, known as the woolly- 
pod milkweed (Plate XXXII), which grows in California, is very 
poisonous and has caused heavy losses of sheep. A comparison of the 
plates will show that A. eriocarpa, while superficially resembling 
A. speciosa, has leaves of a very different form. The prominent 
symptoms of poisoning by woolly-pod milkweed are marked depres- 
sion, loss of appetite, diarrhea, mucus in feces, lowered temperature, 
and rapid pulse. This is probably the most poisonous of all the 
milkweeds and is peculiar in that sometimes the serious symptoms 
do not appear until a considerable time after the olant has been eaten. 
Whorled Milkweeds. 
There are several species of whorled milkweed, plants with nar- 
row leaves arranged more or less in whorls. Of these the most im- 
portant is Asclepias galioides, found in Colorado, Utah, Arizona, 
and Xew Mexico, and extending into western Texas. This is illus- 
trated in Plate XXXIII. It is poisonous to horses, cattle, and sheep, 
and has caused serious losses, especially of sheep. 
Another whorled milkweed, A. mexicana, shown in Plate XXXIV, 
grows in the Pacific States and is especially abundant in some parts 
