Larkspur and Other Poisonous Plants. 
and experimentally it has not proved to be so. One gentleman 
from the YVestern Slope, who besides being a successful ranch- 
m , a:was also a graduate physician, explains the beneficial results 
o beeding as follows: “It relieves the passive congestion in¬ 
duced by the paralyzing effect of the poison upon the heart.” 
It is- less than fifty years since bleeding was practiced on the 
lower animals as well as on the human, for every imaginable com¬ 
plaint, and it was considered uniformly efficacious. It has now 
been discontinued save m rare instances. It is a question whether 
the animals would not do just as well or better if left entirely alone 
The principal effect of larkspur, like aconite, is to depress the heart 
action; therefore the animal should not be chased or excited. 
• 4.u ^ wouI f be hard to conceive of a treatment more disastrous 
in this case than tobacco. Its action would be much like the poison 
and disastrous in the extreme. The use of bacon would be absurd 
Lard could be given in this case as it is in strychnine poisoning in 
dogs. Its value consists in mechanically retarding the absorption 
of the poison. The practice of slitting the forehead and pouring 
m turpentine is too absurd for serious consideration. This along 
with many other absurdities practiced in the name of curative 
medicine is to be looked upon as a relic of the superstitions of 
lormer days, and should, along with the magic of the witches 
mess pot, be relegated to the company of the empiricisms of a less 
enlightened age. 
As shown m the account of experiments which follow, we 
have at least two remedies which possess real antidotal value. These 
cases of poisoning occur in almost every instance in mountain 
ranges, far removed from any immediate assistance, and under 
the worst conditions imaginable. The remedies, whatever they 
are, must be something that can be carried on horse back and easily 
and quickly given. As a chemical antidote, potassium permangan¬ 
ate and aluminum sulfate in equal parts in doses of from thirty 
to fifty grains (five to ten grains for sheep), dissolved in at least 
a pint of water, is given at one dose, by drench. This remedy 
so highly. recommended by Chesnut and Wilcox in their Montana 
investigation, has been repeatedly tried at this Station with most 
satisfactory results. I believe this remedy to be a practical one 
for the stockmen. When operating within easy access to water 
the powders can be carried ready for solution and given without 
much delay. With slight inconvenience the solution can be carried 
ready for use. It is important to see that the powder is completely 
dissolved. It should then be given at one dose, exciting the animal 
as little as possible. A number of drugs have been tried experi¬ 
mentally upon sheep and rabbits, with the hope of finding some¬ 
thing easy of application that would counteract the depressing effect 
