344 
M. STALKER. 
ing to induce the animal to take the plant voluntarily I prepared 
a strong infusion, and by means of the stomach pump gave the 
preparation obtained from about ten pounds of the plant. In 
twenty minutes stupor began to ensue, the eyes were closed, the 
head was rested against the side of the box, the breathing became 
stertorous, and all the symptoms developed that were to be seen in 
the patients previously examined. At the end of six hours the stu¬ 
por began to disappear, the eye began to regain its brightness and in 
another hour the horse began to eat. The following day, when 
he had apparently recovered from its effects, he was given half 
the quantity of the drug as on the previous day. In this instance 
the symptoms were developed much more rapidly, the animal be¬ 
coming unconscious in a short time and died in an hour and a half. 
The post mortem revealed the same condition of the brain as in 
the case examined in the western part of the State. I now resolved 
to make a second experiment, in which the animal should receive 
a small quantity for a number of days in succession. Having 
procured another subject for experimentation and a bushel of the 
mature fruit, or pods of the plant, I commenced on Sept. 5th to 
give daily the infusion obtained from about one quart of the pods. 
On the fifth day of the experiment the characteristic stupor came 
on. The animal rested its head against the box and slept while 
standing. The symptoms grew more marked till the thirteenth 
day of the experiment, when the animal died. The post mortem 
showed the same as in the other cases. These experiments leave 
no doubt in my mind that the trouble along the Missouri river is 
occasioned by the animals feeding on this little plant. It is from 
eight inches to a foot in height, with branching stems bearing 
yellow flowers in July and developing large pods resembling the 
pea, but containing a number of black, hard seeds. It grows on 
sandy bottom land, and is very abundant in the meadows and pas¬ 
tures in portions of the Missouri bottom. It is seldom seen among 
the tame meadow grass in any considerable amount. It thrives 
best among the wild grasses. Animals, doubtless, eat it much 
more than formerly, when the wild pasturage was better than at 
present. Cattle sometimes, though not often, suffer in the same 
way as horses. 
