was then placed in the cage, and after forty-five minutes 12 grams in all had been eaten. The rabbit ate the first portion quite readily, but it had practically refused to eat more of the Cicuta, even when coaxed, at the end of a half hour. It was then decidedly uneasy, and its respiration was unusually rapid. Ten minutes later it had voided a considerable amount of urine, which relieved it from most of its symptoms, but five minutes later still its temperature was 102.4°, that of a check being 100.8° F. A little irregularity of breathing was noted three and one-half hours after the beginning of the experiment, but the next day the rabbit seemed perfectly normal. Experiment 2.-In the preceding experiment all of the aerial portion of the plant was used. In this the thick, whitish basal portions of the leaves, which were thought to be more poisonous on account of their more oily appearance and their pungent taste, were discarded. Fifty grams were offered to a 1-pound rabbit. The amount which had been eaten five hours afterwards was 12 grams or more, as was ascertained by weighing the uneaten part and making proper allowance for the evaporation of water, which was determined by weighing a check amount of equal weight that had been exposed to practically the same conditions. No effect whatever was produced. Experiment 3.-On June 9 50 grams of the fresh tops of the nonflowering plants (1 to 14 feet high), exclusive of the white basal portions, was eaten by a rabbit weighing about 14 pounds without causing any marked symptoms. These experiments do not afford sufficient data upon which to base any very definite conclusions, but it seems certain that the basal portion of the leaves of young plants is more toxic than the green foliaceous part, and it may be safely assumed that the leaves of the older plants are likewise less toxic. When the stems are older, they are not so tempting to stock in Montana, because at that time there is an abundance of wholesome fodder, and it may be that the mere failure of stock to eat the stems in that stage has given rise to the idea that the tops of the older plants are not poisonous. It is more than likely that the older stems, containing as much oil as they do, are poisonous, but to a much less degree than the root, which is responsible for a large percentage of the cases of water-hemlock poisoning which occur in the State. Experiment 4.-The remedies which were tried in cases of poisoning by this plant include morphine and chloral hydrate, combined in a few instances with emptying the stomach by means of rumenotomy (paunching), and the use of cathartics. Potassium permanganate was not tried in any of these cases for the reason that the violent physiological effects of the poison were already sharply pronounced when the animals were seen. It was thereby evident that most of the poison had already been absorbed out of the stomach, and could therefore not be affected by permanganate of potassium in the stomach. Two sheep were given morphine hypodermically in quarter-grain doses at intervals of five minutes. No decided effects of the morphine were observed until after the third dose, when the sheep became gradually calmer. After receiving five doses both sheep lay down in a partly stupefied condition, from which they did not arouse for several hours. These sheep ultimately recovered from the poisoning, although its effects were noticeable for four or five days. Experiment 5.-An experiment was tried with chloral hydrate as an antidote for poisoning by water hemlock. One sheep was given one-half ounce of chloral hydrate in three equal doses at intervals of ten minutes. The effect of this substance was not so immediate as was that of morphine, but seemed to be otherwise very similar. The sheep finally passed into a stupor similar to that produced by morphine, from which it emerged after about two hours. The sheep did not manifest any further violent symptoms as the result of the poisoning, but it did not recover its appetite, and, after drooping about for three days, finally died. It would seem that in this case the violent effects of the poison were not counteracted quickly enough to enable the animal to make a final recovery. Erperiment 6.-In one case where four cows were poisoned with water hemlock one of the number was seen when the first symptoms of poisoning began to be shown. The stomach was at once opened at the point where the ordinary operation of paunching is performed and the stomach contents were removed. A large enema of lukewarm water was then given, followed by a drench of melted lard. No direct antidotes were given in this case. The animal, however, did not exhibit the most violent symptoms of the poisoning and made a complete recovery after two days without any further care. The three other cows died before any treatment could be given. In one other case of poisoning from water hemlock a cow was given two 1-ounce doses of chloral hydrate fifteen minutes apart with very satisfactory results. SYMPTOMS OF POISONING. The symptoms of poisoning from this plant were most closely studied in sheep. The animals manifested signs of severe pain very quickly after the appearance of the first symptoms. In sheep the first sign of poisoning was usually an attempt on the part of the sheep to run away from the band or to run in any direction in which it happened to get started. There were also manifestations of great cerebral frenzy, accompanied by involuntary muscular movements which resembled to some extent the movements of animals when suffering from colic. The respiration was labored and somewhat irregular, the pulse was wiry and intermittent. It is, however, a difficult matter in most cases to make reliable observations on this point, for the reason that an attempt to manipulate the animal always results in increasing the mental excitement and the violence of the muscular spasms. These spasms rapidly become more and more severe as the cerebral excitement increases until the animal appears to be in an unconscious condition and dies in the most violent spasms. In some cases of cattle poisoned by this plant the victims died within fifteen minutes after the first signs of poisoning had appeared. In other cases among both sheep and cattle where the first symptoms succeeded one another less rapidly the animal lived for two or three hours, dying finally from exhaustion, apparently as the result of the violent muscular convulsions. REMEDIAL AND PREVENTIVE MEASURES. Water hemlock is to be considered as a dangerous poisonous plant, especially because so large a percentage of the animals poisoned by it ultimately die, and because its action is so rapid that the possibility of treating a large number of simultaneous cases is practically precluded. It will readily be understood that in any case where several hundred animals are poisoned at the same time considerable skill will be required to administer even a simple treatment to each animal in time to prevent the fatal effects of the poisoning. But the difficulty is especially great when one has to deal with a plant like water hemlock, of which a fatal dose may produce death within fifteen minutes. As already indicated, antidotes for poisoning from this plant may be applied with success if the animals are noticed immediately after the first symptoms of poisoning appear. Too often, however, especially in the case of cattle, the poisoning is not discovered until it is too late to give any remedial treatment. Permanganate of potash should be promptly administered as previously recommended for poisoning by other plants. If violent symptoms are already apparent, give morphine or some other sedative hypodermically. In no case should these be administered by way of the mouth if the permanganate has already been given. Morphine should be given in doses as follows: For adult sheep, 1 grains; for cattle and horses, 3 to 10 grains. The distribution of water hemlock is much less extensive in the localities where it grows than is that of death camas. It would seem, therefore, to be a comparatively easy matter to prevent sheep from grazing on areas where it occurs, at least during the spring and summer. It seldom happens that water hemlock is found along the whole course of the stream or around the whole circumference of a lake. There are, in nearly every case, places free from it at which the sheep could be watered with safety. In case the water hemlock grows along the banks of the stream at points which are the most convenient watering places, it could here be exterminated with a moderate amount of labor. This can be done by repeatedly cutting it down, or in other ways. It is advisable to avoid the use of hay containing water hemlock. The plants should be removed from native meadows before mowing. Sheep herders should become thoroughly acquainted with the appearance of the plant, so as to be able to recognize it in any of its stages. An illustration of the value of such knowledge is found in the case of a herder who made several attempts to water his sheep at different points along the bank of a certain stream with disastrous consequences in each case. A close observation would have shown that the same plant was the cause of the poisoning in all cases. SUMMARY. Water hemlock is widely distributed in Montana along water courses and in swampy places from the lowest altitudes up to about 7,500 feet. The roots have long been known to be fatal when eaten by stock. and cases of poisoning of stock have been reported from eating dry seeded specimens in hay. Our observations from May to July, 1900, showed that a number of cattle and sheep ate the young plants, including in some cases the roots, with fatal results in about 80 per cent of the cases. Our experiments demonstrated that the basal portions of the plants less than 14 feet high were poisonous to rabbits, and that morphine and chloral hydrate are useful in counteracting the physiological effects of this plant. In cases where large quantities of the plant, especially the root, are eaten, death results so quickly that remedial measures can not be applied. WHITE LOCO WEED.1 (Aragallus spicatus (Hook.) Rydberg.) DESCRIPTION, HABITAT, AND DISTRIBUTION. An erect, tufted perennial, 4 to 18 inches high, without branches, with pinnate leaves and narrow leaflets and spikes of white or slightly cream-colored flowers resembling those of the pea (Pls. IX and X). The pod is one-celled and when ripe the seed produces a rattling sound which gives the plant the name rattleweed. It is exceedingly common throughout the State, but grows most abundantly on the northern slopes of foothills and mountains up to an altitude of about 8,000 feet. While it grows freely on nearly all the important ranges of the State, it is most abundant in Judith Basin, the Musselshell country, and the Yellowstone Valley. The situations in which it grows are for the most part rather dry, and in many cases it is found quite abundantly on dry prairie ranges. The habitat of the plant seems 1 For other loco weeds, see page 99. |