Barium: A Cause of the Loco-Weed DiseaseCrawford, Albert C. (Albert Cornelius)
Science
Barium: A Cause of the Loco-Weed Disease
Crawford, Albert C. (Albert Cornelius)
Astragalus earlei; Barium
On September 23, 1907, a rabbit weighing 1,757 grams was fed at 10.42 a.
m. with 0.1 gram of the same barium acetate. The temperature at the time
of feeding was 102.9°F. At 12.05 a.m. the animal urinated.
Temperature, 101.4°F. On September 24 the animal weighed the same.
Temperature at 10.55 a.m., 102.3°F. The same amount of barium was fed.
At 3.40 p.m. the temperature was 102.5°F. On September 25 the animal
weighed 1,800 grams. Temperature, 102.2°F. at 10.39 a.m. The dose of
barium was repeated. At 3.55 p.m. the temperature was 101.4°F. On
September 26 at 9.38 a.m. the temperature was 101.1°F., and again the
barium was given. At 3.57 p.m. the temperature was 101.5°F. On
September 27 the rabbit weighed 1,772 grams. The temperature at 9.53 a.
m. was 102.3°F. The barium was fed for the fifth time. At 10.27 a.m.
there were general convulsions. The eyes teared. At 10.32 a.m. soft
stools appeared and the animal urinated. Stools were passed at various
periods. At 11.30 a.m. there were no signs of pain on pinching the ear.
At 11.58 a.m. the animal retched. The animal was lying with the fore
legs wide apart and could not support itself. At 12.05 p.m. the
temperature was 98°F. and the rabbit died shortly after.
The peritoneal cavity seemed normal. The small intestines were relaxed,
while the mesenteric vessels were dilated. The kidneys seemed congested.
The stomach walls were pink and in places covered with mucus. The heart
was relaxed save the left ventricle, which seemed firm.
On September 23, 1907, a second rabbit, weighing 1,360 grams, was fed
with a similar solution and the feeding was repeated at the same time
the first rabbit was fed. On September 27 the animal weighed 1,416
grams. On this day a peculiar movement of the hind legs on jumping
appeared, apparently due to an inability to draw the legs completely up,
and the fore legs were spread wide apart, as if too weak to support the
animal. The temperature had also fallen. On September 28 the animal had
apparently recovered. Weight, 1,516 grams on October 21.
On September 23, 1907, a third rabbit, weighing 1,304 grams, was fed
with 50 milligrams of barium acetate. This dose was repeated each time
the other two rabbits were fed. On September 27 it weighed 1,304 grams.
Marked muscular twitching appeared, with disinclination to move. Finally
there were convulsions and paralysis of the limbs. No stools were seen.
This animal lay quiet all night, apparently unable to move, and
continued on its side until 3.15 p.m. on September 28, when it
gradually recovered, weighing 1,346 grams on October 24.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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