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968
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B 411202
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968
Issued October 25, 1916.
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
-M37
NOV24 ISM
BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY,
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A. D. MELVIN, CHIEF.
UNIV, OF NICH,
LIBRARY
THE CAUSE OF THE “SPEWING SICKNESS” OF
«
SHEEP.
(PRELIMINARY NOTICE.)
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By C. DWIGHT MARSH, Physiologist, Pathological Division.
LOCATING THE CAUSE.
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On the sheep ranges in the Wasatch Mountains, in Italy, there
have been heavy losses of sheep from what is known locally as the
“spewing sickness.” It has been known that sheep in the higher
ranges were affected by this disease, and when this trouble has
appeared it has been the custom to take them lower, on “browse”
range, when the symptoms would disappear. Many fatalities have
occurred from this trouble, and it has been the popular opinion that
sick sheep that do not die from it are permanently injured.
Careful examinations of the range have been made by members
of this department, but few sick sheep were seen before the season
of 1915. The description of symptoms given by the sheepmen cor-
responded very closely with those known to result from poisoning
by the plant known as death camas (Zygadenus venenosus). The
examination showed that the range contained a considerable quantity
of the plant, and that it was abundant near the places where poison-
ing had occurred. It was therefore assumed that the probable cause
of the difficulty was the death camas.
The location, in 1915, of the station for the experimental study of
poisonous plants in the immediate vicinity of ranges where this spew -
ing sickness occurs gave an opportunity for a thorough study of the
subject. A better knowledge of the flora was obtained, and the sheep
were studied under both corral and range conditions. The result of
the summer's work was to show quite conclusively that the spewing
sickness in the summer of 1915 was not caused by death camas but
was due to another plant, which has been suspected by some of doing
harm, but which has never before been definitely shown to be harm-
ful. This plant is known locally as “sneezeweed," the botanical name
being Dugaldia hoopesii Gray.
A considerable amount of experimental work was done in feeding
sheep on this plant, and there seems to be no question not only that
the plant is poisonous but also that it is the cause of this particular
.
56348_16
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trouble. Definite results were obtained in the study of the symptoms,
pathology, dosage, and possible remedial measures. The work is,
however, incomplete, and full publication will be possible only after
further investigation. Meantime, inasmuch as there seems to be no
doubt of the dangerous character of the plant, it has been deemed best
to publish a preliminary notice, in order that the sheepmen may rec-
ognize the plant and be on their guard against it, for the plant is not
localized but has a very wide distribution on the western ranges.
The closely related "sneezeweed" of the East, Ilelenium autum-
nale L., has long been known to be poisonous, but there has been no
definite information in regard to the sneezeweed of the West.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT.
Dugaldia hoopesii (fig. 1) belongs to the composite family, and is
a rather stout perennial growing to a height of between 2 and 3
feet. The stem is leafy. The thick, entire leaves, of a deep-green
color, are oblong, lanceolate, or, as in the lower ones, spatulate.
There may be one or several flowers, which resemble a small sun-
flower. The rays are of an orange color, the disk a brownish orange.
From the color of the flowers it is sometimes called "yellowweed."
The plant grows at elevations of between 7,000 and 10,500 feet, and
the blossoming period in the Wasatch Mountains ends the middle
or last of August. It is found from Wyoming in the North to
Arizona and New Mexico in the South, and as far west as California.
While it is found in valleys and along streams, it is not confined in
its habitat to low ground, but may grow well up on hillsides. It
is a rank-growing plant, and, in some localities, has largely taken
possession of extensive areas on the range.
ANIMALS AFFECTED.
While the work of the station on experimental animals is incom-
plete, it seems quite clear that under range conditions horses and
cattle are not poisoned, while sheep suffer rather severely. It does
not follow, of course, that cattle and horses may not be susceptible
to the poisonous effect of the plant, but under ordinary range en-
vironment they do not eat largely of it.
SYMPTOMS.
The marked symptoms of poisoning Ly Dugaldia are depression,
weakness, salivation, nausea accompanied with vomiting, and a weak,
irregular pulse. Diarrhea is common, and bloating is a prominent
symptom in sheep poisoned on the range. The effect on the pulse
is especially characteristic, and it is evident that the toxic principle
in large doses has a specific effect on the heart.

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14/36/-01-0
The symptoms correspond very closely with those produced by
the eastern sneeze weed, Ilelenium autumnale, and it seems probable
that the poisonous principle of Dugaldia hoopesii is similar to that
Fig. 1.—Dugaldia hoopesii, or western sneezeweed.
in Helenium. A chemical examination of the plant is being made,
and it is expected the report can be made at the time of the detailed
publication of the investigation of Dugaldia poisoning.
1
PARTS OF PLANT POISONOUS.
All parts of the plant are poisonous, but the experiments of the
first summer seem to indicate that the flowers are somewhat more so
than the leaves.
QUANTITY NECESSARY TO PRODUCE POISONING.
Dugaldia acts as a cumulative poison. It is probable that cases
of acute poisoning rarely, if ever, occur on the range, though it is
known that a sheep may be poisoned by eating 21 to 3 pounds in a
single day. Most cases of range poisoning, however, are the result
of feeding extending over several days or perhaps two or three
weeks. In such cases a sheep probably eats an average of 14 pounds
daily. The actual exhibition of symptoms may be precipitated by
an unusually heary feeding of a single day when hungry sheep come
upon an especially thick area of the plant.
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PREVENTION OF LOSSES.
At the present stage of the investigation no medicinal remedy
can be recommended. The main reliance must be upon prevention.
If herders recognize the dangerous character of the plant they can
make it a point to see that their flocks do not graze on it. No bad
results are to be expected from eating a few plants, but, inasmuch as
it is a cumulative poison, care should be taken to see that the sheep
do not get it day after day. Care should be taken, too, to prevent
especially hungry sheep from grazing in an area of sneezeweed at
any time, as, under such circumstances, cases of acute poisoning
may result.
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WASHIXGTOX: GOTERYJE.XT PRIXTING OFFICE: 1916
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