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Larkspur and Other Poisonous Puanis. 
In question No. 17, the answers were about equally divided 
between those who believed that condition of animals had nothing 
to. do with the case, and those who were confident that poor 
animals were more susceptible and those who thought fat animals 
more liable. All the answers to No. 18 were in the affirmative 
except two. 
The value of the information gained by this inquiry consists 
largely in the fact that it reveals in a measure the extent of 
the loss from these noxious herbs and lays bare before us evidence 
that the stockmen possess no reliable information regarding them 
or any other of the poisonous weeds. In one thing, however, they 
are all agreed, viz.: some poisonous plants are killing the animals 
from year to year and that it has become a heavy burden. Not 
knowing anything better, the old fashioned remedies, bleeding, 
bacon rinds, turpentine, etc., are tried, with indifferent results. 
This is not surprising, however, when we come to consider 
that it is only within the last few years that this subject has received 
any attention at the hands of investigators, and even now very little 
reliable information can be had regarding the chemistry, physiology, 
01 satisfactory antidotes for the many deadly plants inhabiting 
the western ranges. 
Description, History, and Habitat. While there are several 
species of larkspur growing in the State, there are only two, the 
tall and the purple, found growing in sufficient quantities to warrant 
a serious consideration. They both have the characteristic spur 
shaped flower (cockspur), but in other respects differ widely. The 
tall (Delphinium elongatum) grows from one to five feet high, and 
has a pale blue flower. The leaves are broad and from two to six 
inches in diameter, and greatly resemble those of the wild geranium. 
It is found, growing along the streams, in moist places, and upon 
the north side of mountains at an altitude up to 9,000 feet. From 
the middle of March to the 4th of July, according to altitude, is the 
dangerous period for this plant. The tall larkspur resembles the 
aconite (Monkshood), both in its general appearance and toxic 
effect upon animals. They should not be confused, however, if 
careful examination of the flower is made, the larkspur having an 
appendage in appearance like a cock’s spur; while the aconite has 
a flower dark purple in color and with a top resembling a hood, 
hence the name monkshood. From the reports in other western 
states, especially Montana, it would seem that the purple larkspur, 
which is more generally eaten by sheep, is the more disastrous of 
the two. In this State it is quite the reverse. The tall larkspur 
is more abundant and the major part of the mortality is among 
cattle. 
The purple larkspur rarely exceeds two feet in height. The 
