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
The condition known as "locoed" is popularly believed to be due to
eating various plants, especially the members of the Astragalus and
Aragallus genera of the Leguminosæ, or pea family, but particularly to
_Astragalus mollissimus_ and _Aragallus lamberti_. These plants have
therefore received the name "loco plants,"[7] or crazy weed. But others,
as _Astragalus mortoni_,[8] _A. hornii_, _A. lentiginosus_, _A.
pattersoni_,[9] _A. nuttallianus_, _A. missouriensis_, _A. lotifloras_,
_A. bisulcatus_, _A. haydenianus_,[10] _A. tridactylicus_,[11]
_Crotalaria sagittalis_, _Lotus americanus_,[12] _Sophora sericea_,
_Caprioides aureum_, _Aragallus deflexa_,[13] _A. campestris_,[14] _A.
lagopus_,[15] _Malvastrum coccineum_, _Amaranthus graecizans_, and
_Rhamnus lanceolata_, are considered by some as loco plants.[16] In
other places _Stipa vaseyi_, _Leucocrinum montanum_, _Fritillaria
pudica_, _Zygadenus elegans_,[17] and even species of Delphinium are
considered loco plants, so widely has this name been used.
In Mexico the term "locoed" embraces a condition due to the action of
_Cannabis sativa_ and various members of the nightshade family. This
term has been much abused and has been made to embrace many groups of
symptoms. In fact, if an animal dies while showing more or less stupor
it is said to be locoed.[18] The early Spanish settlers seemed to be
unfamiliar with the disease, or at least of any causative relation
between the plant and the disease. The Spanish name for _Astragalus
mollissimus_ was "Garbanzillo," from its resemblance to Garbanzo (_Cicer
arietinum_), which is used in Spain as a food.[19] The term as applied
to this condition seems to be of comparatively recent origin.[20]
A somewhat similar condition to the loco in stock is sometimes
attributed by the ranchmen of our Western States to eating various
sages.[21] In Texas the loco disease is known as "grass staggers."[22]
Hayes[23] has described as follows a condition known as grass staggers,
which apparently has little resemblance to loco and is supposed to be
due to eating overripe grass, especially rye.
The symptoms, generally, take two or three days to become
developed. The animal gradually becomes more or less unconscious
and paralyzed and staggers if forced to walk. Although he may have
great difficulty in keeping on his legs, he is extremely averse
from going down and leans for support against any convenient
object. He breathes in a snoring manner. The mucous membranes are
tinged with yellow. Convulsions, or spasms, like those of tetanus,
may come on.
Recovery may be expected in cases which are not marked by extreme
symptoms.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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