White Snakeroot Research Articles

Cowboys Ain't Milkboys-Reply

In Reply.— I appreciated Dr Churchill's comments about my article. Dr Churchill indicated that Eupatorium rugosum Houtt has been changed to Ageratina altissima R. M. King and H. Rob. The scientific name for the Midwestern white snakeroot has undergone several changes since it was first identified. The articles I reviewed showed that white snakeroot Eupatorium urticaefolium was named Eupatorium ageratoides in the earlier literature. In 1938, E. D. Merrill 1 reported three binomials: Eupatorium rugosum Maarten Houttuyn, Natuurlijke Historie II , x (part 10) page 558 (1779); Eupatorium urticaefolium D. Joanne Jacobo Reichard, Systema Plantarum iii (part 3), page 719 (1780); and Eupatorium ageratoides Carl von Linne, filius, Supplementum Plantarum , page 355 (1781). All three taxonomists proposed new names for the same species, one year apart. Merrill's choice of the oldest published name, Eupatorium rugosum Houtt, based on Ageratum altissimum Linn, followed the principle of priority, adopted by the International Botanical

White snakeroot poisoning in a foal: A case report

Summary A 2-month-old colt was diagnosed as having white snakeroot poisoning. He had been nursing his dam and eating a mixed hay of alfalfa and grass. Although no evidence of white snakeroot plants were found on the premises or in the hay, the diagnosis was based on symptoms of the foal and the presence of tremetol in the mare's milk. The foal was weak and in moderate respiratory distress. Dysphagia became pronounced. The foal soon collapsed and was unable to rise. During recumbency the foal was tube fed four times daily with a milk replacer and a gruel composed of a pelleted ration soaked in a polyionic solution. Intramuscular injections of vitamins A, D, and vitamin E and selenium were given. Intravenous amino acid solution was given weekly. The foal was in lateral recumbency for 10 days. Muscular function slowly returned over the following 2 months. The foal first stood with help on day 18. The foal was discharged after 71 days of treatment. Four months later the foal was small for his age but apparently normal.

Metabolic changes induced in chickens by the administration of tremetol

Tremetol is a toxic extract of the White Snakeroot plant ( Eupatorium urticaefolium Reichard). The milk of cows grazing on Eupatorium-infested pastures causes “milk sickness”, characterized in part by ketoacidosis and changes in blood glucose levels. In this paper the metabolic effects of chronic administration of tremetol in the chick were studied. Blood glucose and blood free fatty acid levels respond with a biphasic pattern to tremetol administration, first rising above, then decreasing below the control values. In contrast, the blood levels of β-hydroxybutyrate show a sustained and major increase during the treatment period. Tremetol had no demonstrable effect on hepatic glycogen content in the treated group. Studies on hepatic enzyme levels revealed an almost total suppression of citrate synthase activity in the experimental group without a parallel decrease in succinate dehydrogenase activity. A selective toxic action on mitochondria resulting in an inability to effectively metabolize acetyl CoA is put forward as the possible cause of the ketoacidosis.

PHOTOPERIODIC ADAPTATIONS IN EUPATORIUM RUGOSUM

Racial differences based on flowering response to several photoperiods were detectable in two widely separated populations of white snakeroot, Eupatorium rugosum Houtt. The most favorable photoperiod for advanced flowering in Georgia stocks was 12 hr, for those from North Dakota, 14 hr. The difference in latitude between these populations was approximately 12° and represents a mean difference of 75 days in the frost‐free season. Under noninductive photoperiod a 1‐hr interruption of white light in the middle of 15 hr of darkness stimulated floral initiation in North Dakota plants, whereas the same application at the beginning or at the end of the dark period failed to produce flower buds. The effect of red light (660 mμ) for 10 min given in the middle of the long night was similar to white light on the northern strain, and was negated by far‐red (730 mμ). Georgia stocks initiated flowering under 15 hr of darkness but were retarded by white light applied in the middle of the period, thus differing in basic response from North Dakota plants. Red light, in contrast to effects observed in North Dakota plants, retarded initiation of flower buds. This effect was offset by far‐red light. When compared with other studies on long‐day and short‐day species our results suggest that photoperiodic adaptations related to latitudinal distribution occur in white snakeroot. The North Dakota strain showed correspondence to long‐day types while short‐day tendencies were exhibited by Georgia plants.

Toxic constituents of “white snakeroot”

Toxic constituents of “white snakeroot”

MILK SICKNESS, THE RESULT OF RICHWEED POISONING

Recent toxicological and chemical investigations1of richweed poisoning, supported by a large number of clinical reports of cases of milk sickness, make it possible to state definitely certain facts about this disease. It can no longer be doubted that milk sickness is richweed poisoning and that it is caused by the consumption of milk or milk products obtained from cows that have fed on that plant.2 Richweed, or white snakeroot, known botanically asEupatorium urticaefoliumReich., is one of the composite family. It occurs throughout the eastern United States as far west as Oklahoma and Nebraska. A chemical study of the toxic constituents of this plant has revealed the fact that three poisonous substances are present. Two of these, a volatile oil and a resin acid, do not produce trembles in animals and have no relationship to milk sickness. The third poison is an oily liquid, with the

The toxic constituent of richweed or white snakeroot (Eupatorium Urticœfolium).–A reprint from Journal of Agricultural Research, September 15, 1927. By James Filton Couch, Pathological Division, Bureau of Animal Industry, U. S. Department of Agriculture. Published by authority of the Secretary of Agriculture with the coöperation of the Association of Land‐Grant Colleges and Universities

The toxic constituent of richweed or white snakeroot (Eupatorium Urticœfolium).–A reprint from Journal of Agricultural Research, September 15, 1927. By James Filton Couch, Pathological Division, Bureau of Animal Industry, U. S. Department of Agriculture. Published by authority of the Secretary of Agriculture with the coöperation of the Association of Land‐Grant Colleges and Universities

"MILK SICK," OR WHITE SNAKEROOT POISONING

Eupatorium urticaelfolium, the white snakeroot, belongs to the aster family. It is sometimes called boneset, polewort or squaw weed. It grows from 1 to 4 feet high and is widely distributed in the Western states from Minnesota to Louisiana and eastward. Its habitat is rich, deep, shady woods, but it will grow on a hillside in the shade, and on well drained land in the open. The common thoroughwort belongs to the same family and grows in the same locality. The only way to eradicate snakeroot is to pull it out or cultivate the ground. Dr. Dwight Marsh of the United States Department of Agriculture produced white snakeroot poisoning after the plants had been sterilized in autoclaves. Walter Sackett produced poisoning by extracts, and related experiments have been performed at the Purdue University and North Carolina agricultural stations. This work has determined that the trembles in cattle arise from their

The Connection of Milksickness with the Poisonous Qualities of White Snake-Root (Eupatorium Urticaefolium)

Barbee,2 in 1840, after searching for possible causes of disease, concluded : Nor have any circumstances in history of 'Milk-Sick* in these districts (Ohio) enabled me to approach nearer to a discovery of its cause than that it probably has a vegetable origin. By some it would be deemed altogether unnecessary to offer anything in support of supposition of vegetable origin of disorder. This is most popular theory and has more facts to sustain it than that which contends for a mineral poison. He had noticed that cows which were enclosed in woodland pastures developed trembles and died. His observations led him to believe that two plants which were probably responsible were white snake-root and poison oak (Rhus toxicodendron). He fed a decoction of first to a dog which showed characteristic symptoms and died in 3 hours; to another he gave a decoction of latter plant with results similar to first, except that animal died in 2 hours. Barbee states that an acquaintance of his, Dr. Owen, had fed a decoction of E. ageratoides (urticaefolium) to a calf which developed trembles and died in a few hours. A fact of additional interest is that Dr. Owen had received specimens of plants identified as E. ageratoides, from farmers in Indiana who claimed that this species was responsible for trembles. Some argued that it could not be cause of trouble for, were that case, all cattle which ate it should die, and this was not true. In defense of his position, Barbee advanced idea of individual resistance among animals, asserting that the vital powers may resist poisonous agency in any quantity.

Studies on trembles or milk-sickness and white snake root

Studies on trembles or milk-sickness and white snake root

NOTES ON LARVÆ, ETC

Last summer, near the end of July, in skirmishing through a wood overgrown with White Snake-root weeds, I struck a large find of the Callimorpha interrupto-marginata moths, and collected some 50 specimens. Others collected as many more. The weeds were covered with their larvæ, of a bright yellow color, with a white lateral stripe, mottled along its upper edge with bright red, the anal end being also faced with red markings. The length about 1½inches. I collected altogether some 200 of them, but utterly failed to bring one to pupa. As they stopped feeding they were taken with a white scouring, leaving nothing but empty skins. Others tried them with like result. The bushes were also strung with their dead bodies. Still some must have escaped, as the brood this year was just as large. But the larvæ failed again to pupate. I think the fault is in the food plant, as cattle will not touch it, and such as are knocked off may take to other food and escape. Cannot some of your correspondents explain this?