- The “Crazy-weed” or “Loco-weed” is of Spanish origin and has been variously identified by Gray as Astragalus legum, by others as Astragalus mollisimus, and by W.
- S.
- Gee, who made the provingTesting a remedy on healthy volunteersThe systematic method of administering a substance to healthy subjects to observe and record the symptoms it produces., as Oxytropis Lamberti.
- In Gee's proving, the tinctureConcentrated liquid raw extractA mother tincture prepared by soaking botanical, animal, or mineral raw materials in alcohol and water. and potencies from lx to 30x were used.
- A number of mind and brain symptoms were produced including despondency, forgetfulness, a feeling as if consciousness would be lost, fullness in the head and instability standing.
- There were pains both in testes and ovaries, and one male prover, naturally passionate, became impotent.
- W.
- D.
- Gentry in June.
- 1895, sent Boericke & Tafel specimens of Oxyt and as this firm is extremely careful about the botany of the p lants they make their tinctures from, Gentry made these remarks concerning the plants he sent: “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 it self 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 ma de some ludicrous maneuvers.
- I observed them closely for more than an hour and was reminded most forcibly by their actions of the symptoms of locomotor ataxiaLoss of full control of bodily movementsA neurological sign consisting of lack of voluntary coordination of muscle movements that can include gait abnormality..” 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.
- Gentry made provings of the tincture of the whole plant and seeds on three persons.
- Two provers had “symptoms worse when thinking of them.” They 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.” Marked action on the nervous system producing uncertain, staggering or back ward gait.
- Staggering gait.
- Reflexes lost.
- Trembling, sensation of emptiness.
- VertigoSensation of dizziness or spinningA feeling of movement or spinning of oneself or the surroundings when there is no actual movement..
- Congestion of spine and paralysisLoss of voluntary muscle functionThe loss of the ability to move (and sometimes to feel anything) in part or most of the body..
- Pains come and go quickly.
- Sphincters relaxed.
- Urging to urinate when thinking of it.
- Great mental depression