Oxytropis Lamberti

Oxytropis Lamberti.

Oxytropis Lamberti (Pursh). (Including O. Campestris, Hook.) "Loco" Weed. Rattle-weed. N. O. Leguminosae. Tincture of fresh plant (without root).

Amblyopia. Bladder, irritability of.

The "Loco-weed" or "Crazy-weed" ("loco" is of Spanish origin, and means "crazy") has been variously identified by Gray as Astragalus legum, by others as Astragalus mollissimus, and by W. S. Gee, who made the proving, as Oxytropis Lamberti (M. A., xvii. 441).

Probably the writer of the botanical articles in the Century Dictionary is nearest the mark in saying that Loco-weed is "any one of several leguminous plants producing the loco-disease in animals. Among them are Astragalus mollissimus and A. Hornii, with several other species of the genus, and Oxytropis Lamberti." Henfry's Botany remarks that the foliage of "O. Lamberti is said to be injurious to cattle"; so Dr.

Gee was quite justified in taking this plant for the proving. (The Astragali are very closely related to the Oxytropi. A. gummifera is the source of Gum tragacanth. A few observations with A.

Menziesii will be found in Vol. I. of this work.) Gee's specimens were obtained by Dr. Hawkes, of Chicago, and a tincture was made from these by Boericke & Tafel. Gee quotes from Coulter's Manual of the Botany of the Rocky Mountain Region a description of Oxytropis Lamberti.

W. D. Gentry in June, 1895, sent Boericke & Tafel specimens of Loco-weed, and as this firm are extremely careful about the botany of the plants they make their tinctures from, I conclude these plants must have been Oxyt. Lamberti or they would have mentioned the fact.

Gentry makes these remarks concerning the plants he sent (H. R., x. 364): "My attention was first called to this plant last winter during January, soon after my arrival on the territory, as it was almost the only green thing showing itself above the snow, which covered the ground at that time for two or three days. Some cattle had been eating the weed, and as I approached them they tried to move away; but in spite of their efforts they backed towards me, and in their efforts to escape made some ludicrous manoeuvres.

I observed them closely for more than an hour, and was reminded most forcibly by their actions of the symptoms of locomotor ataxy." Gentry made provings of the Ø tincture of the whole plant and seeds on three persons. He gives the "leading symptoms," which will be found with his authority (Gent.) appended to each in the Schema. Gentry's observation of loco-disease in winter bears out what is said by other writers, namely, that it is only in winter, when food is scanty, that animals can be induced to commence eating the weed; and then they cannot leave off.

An account of loco-disease appeared in Brit. Med. Jour. of March, 23, 1889 (H. W., xxiv. 177), which contains some observations bearing on the season at which the disease occurs, and at which the plant is poisonous.

I quote from the article: "The animal affected loses flesh; has a feeble, staggering, uncertain gait; a rough coat, and general appearance which is said to be characteristic; it loses all sense of distance or direction, and is liable to fits of rearing, plunging, and wild excitement; pregnant animals drop their offspring prematurely." The account goes on to say that the plant is generally identified as Astragalus mollissimus. H. C. Wood and Mr.

Kennedy, of Texas, failed to produce poisoning in animals experimented on. Later, Dr. Mary Gage Day made experiments with a decoction of roots, leaves, and stems gathered in September. She is convinced from experiments made with materials gathered in different months that the greatest amount of poison is present in autumn and winter after the seeds have ripened—the seasons at which the disease is most rife.

The account does not give the botany of the plants she used, but cats, kittens, and a jack-rabbit were decidedly "locoed," and died, the jack-rabbit in ten days after commencing to eat the plant, for which he speedily acquired a liking. In Gee's proving the Ø tincture and potencies from 1x to 30x were used. A number of mind and brain symptoms were produced; despondency, forgetfulness; a feeling as if consciousness would be lost; fulness in the head and instability standing. Two provers had "symptoms < when thinking of them." Gentry's provers had "pleasant, intoxicated feelings." Both Gentry's and Gee's provers had well-marked pains in the eyes and disturbance of vision; and Gentry's had "numb, pithy, or woody feeling about and on the spine"; and "loss of power to control movements of limbs." In Gee's provings there were pains both in testes and ovaries, and one male prover, naturally passionate, became impotent.

The symptoms are < on thinking of them (urging to urinate if he thinks of it); > on side lain on; < immediately after eating, > an hour after. Sick, exhausted feeling at 10 a.m.; chill 1l.40 a.m.

Pain (also bladder irritation) > when moving about; > in cool air. Any little exercise = dry cough. > After stool.

> After sleep. Pains go from r. to l. Dyspnoea with chill.

Compare: Lath., Astrag. menz., Physostig., Laburn., and other Leguminosae. In symptoms < when thinking of them, Ox. ac. (>, Camph.). Pain in cord and testes, Ox. ac. Pains r. to l., Lyc. > moving about, Rhus.

Roaring sound in ears.

Slight inflammation of pharynx, a "husky" feeling.—Throat dry and sore.

At l.30 p.m. pain in l. ovary, like something grasping or holding tightly for about an hour, then disappeared.

Oppression in lungs at 9 p.m.—A warm tingling sensation over l. chest, just under skin.

Pain and stiffness of muscles of back of neck.—Numb, pithy or woody feeling about and in the spine (Gent.).

At 10 a.m. a very sick, exhausted feeling Weakness and insecurity of all power of locomotion (Gent.) Feeling of intoxication with almost entire loss of vision (Gent.) Sense of touch greatly impaired (Gent.)

Animals eating it become slaves to it and can never be kept from it; they droop, lose flesh, stand with head hanging down, eyes half closed; suddenly will commence to kick violently at imaginary enemies; they are devoid of malice, but cannot be worked as they don't know when to stop or when to start, or which way to turn, or how to change gait or meet changes in level of road.

Chill at 1l.40 a.m., beginning in back and between shoulders, down over body to feet; stomach feels cold; pains all over body during chill; a peculiar sensation of crawling or contraction of abdominal muscles, hardest about navel, lasted about half an hour.—As chill passes off a smarting in throat and a feeling as though lungs and bronchi would close up, making breathing very difficult; chill lasted until 2 p.m., when all disappeared.—No thirst in either stage.—For four weeks on every seventh day had a chill with all the above symptoms; coldness of spine was continuous for eight weeks, and was then removed by Gels.