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About The gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925 | View Entire Issue (April 30, 1914)
HOME AND FARM MAGAZINE SECTION Water Hemlock Poisons Livestock Cases of Poisoning Reported in Both Oregon and Washington Scientists Work in Colorado ,. Kix .1.... rv LTHOUGH the roots of th plant M known as the "water hemlock" a " contain a deadly poison, its tops and seeds fn hay will not harm cattle, according to scientists of the U. S. de partment of agriculture. These scien tists, whose specialty it is to Investi gate plants from which drugs and poisons are taken, have been compil ing data on this plant, which Is one of the most deadly known in America. Besides its scientific name "Cicuta" and its more popular name "water hemlock," the plant is known in var ious localities as "cowbane," "wild parsley," "snakeroot," "spotted hem lock," "snakeweed," and "beaver pois on." In New Mexico it has been known as "pecos." The plant has also popular German names, as it is found in Germany. (irow in Wet Places. . The plants grow in wet places such as swamps and irrigating ditches in nearly all of our Northern and West ern states. When the root of the plant is cut open drops of an aromatic oil are seen. These give the root a pe culiar odor and are popularly thought to be the source of the poison. The poison is indeed in the root, but is se creted in the form of a resin which is distinct from the oil. Although the poison is most deadly, the fact that it Is confined to the roots rather than ex tending to the tops and seeds accounts for the fact that it causes but com paratively few deaths. The total loss from such weeds as "loco" and "lark spur" is much greater. There have been relatively few hu man beings poisoned by this weed in America. Most of those afflicted have been children who have been poisoned in the spring when the dangerous ele ment in the" plant seems most active. Cases of such poison are recorded in Maine, New Hampshire, Massa chusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, North and South Dakota, Arizona, Nevada and Utah. The total number is very small, five eases, for instance, having been reported in one year in Mon tana, of which four were fatal. Northwest Cattle Poisoned. Lases of cattle poisoned in this country have been noted In Washing ton, Oregon. California, Arizona an North Dakota. Individual owners of stock have occasionally lost very heavily. One man in Oregon esti mated the loss in his immediate neigh borhood for one year at ten per cent. Another estimates the average annual loss in Oregon at 100 head. The loss of 30 head of cattle and 80 sheep was reported for one year in Montana. The losses are of course inconsiderable compared with losses from other causes. It is usually assumed that a plant containing an element having such a pronounced effect on the human or ganism has useful medicinal prop erties. Much attention has been given to the violent poison of water hem lock. It has been known In Europe since the middle of the sixteenth cen tury and has been tried as a remedy for various diseases with various ef fects. In Norway it has been used for gout. It has even been used as a poultice for local pains. American Indians when tired of life are said to have poisoned themselves with it. The dangers that accompany its use may be drawn from the following description of the results of water hemlock poisoning: There is first a pain particularly in the stomach, but it may be general in character. Nausea is sometimes followed by violent vomiting or spasmodic attempts to vomit without result. Dilated pupil, diarrhea, labored breathing, frothing at the mouth and gnashing of the teeth, are other symptoms. Convul sions may be followed by unconscious ness or death. The symptoms in the lower animals are like those in man except that they are less marked. Only a small quantity of the poison is necessary to produce death with all its attendant agonies. Emetic Best Remedy. The symptoms as described above are quite different from those pro duced by the drug plant called hem lock, with which the ancient Greeks Water Hemlock, Showing Leaves and Flowers. were familiar. A description of the death of Socrates from the Greek hemlock poison is given in great de tail by Plato. The Greeks used this poison to do away with criminals; it was also used by suicides. The "water hemlock" of more temperate regions was probably given its name merely because it resembled the Greek plant In being deadly poisonous. There is no actual relation between the two plants. a. a. Candidate for Democratic Nomination for GOVERNOR I stand for : The abolition of the liquor traffic; The abolishing of capital punishment; The building of good roads; The employment of the worthy idle; The reduction of taxes and the partial pay ment of same; Economy in all the departments of our state government; The honor system for prisoners; The minimum wage law. If this platform is your sentiment and you wish to vote for the man who advocates and stands for it, it is absolutely necessary that you register as a Democrat before the primaries, which will en title you to vote for and pnt the man of your choice in a good position for victory in the gen eral election. (Paid Advertisement) TO THE DEMOCRATIC VOTERS OF OREGON On April 1st, 19H, after twelve other aspirants to the office of Governor had announced their candidacy, I was beseiged by many friends and acquain tances urging me to make the race, stating that so far no candidate had come out squarely and declared for certain principles firmly enough for them. I was asked by a great many to submit a platform on which I would run and stand by if I were to make the race. I wrote my Ideas and principles on which I would stand and submitted them, which I set forth elsewhere In pam phlet. After so doing the demands for my candidacy became stronger and stronger until finally I decided to muke the race, and if I am nominated and elected, I shall be the people's Governor. It has been said "In a multitude of counsel there is wisdom," and I do not believe any Governor can judiciously perform the duties of his office without counseling his people so as to be fully advised on all sides of the question before passing judgment, and so far as I know this has never been done. Again, I want to say, If I am nom inated and elected Governor, I shall visit from time to time the different sec tions of the state, studying Its needs, and counsel with the people In public gatherings, committees and otherwise, when there are Important issues up for settlement, that I may at all times ascertain the best things possible for our state government and its good people. I want this link In the affairs of our state to begin to be welded now. Therefore I want you to feel at perfect liberty to write me today, or any other time during my candidacy, on any subject, giving me your ideas and getting my views of same. I want my campaign to be a personal, heart-to-heart one. It being impossible In the short time of which I have, on account of the lateness of my decision to run, to personally meet and come in contact with all the voters of the state, 1 want to correspond with all those whom I cannot meet. Your letters will be promptly answered. In other words, I want us to be together In this campaign for a successful, progressive, law-enforcing, greater, economical Oregon. I believe the door of the Governor's office should be open at all times to the people, and if the good people of Oregon should see fit to make me their Governor, I ahull at all times be ready to hear them on any of the questions that may arise as to their needs and the betterment of our state government. I do not believe there has been a close enough relation between the people and their Governor. This re lation I shall at once establish. NATIVE OF MISSOURI Born July 29, 1873; came to Oregon 22 years ago; located In Douglas County, where for a number of years was engaged in farming, finally enter ing into the raising of wholesale garden products with five brothers then known as the firm of Cobb Bros., in which I was engaged up to seven years ago, retiring then from the farm, coming to Portland and entering the real estate business quite extensively. Four years ago I entered the University of Oregon Law School, which I attended at nights, giving my attention during the day to my business affairs. After attending the University for some two years I passed a successful State Bar examination, admitting me to practice law In all the courts of Oregon. I have been more than successful in each of my business and professional adventures. I own property and pay taxes In four counties of the state. During all this time I have closely observed and studied the political and economical conditions and the needs of our great state. Realizing, as I do the great importance attached to the Governor's of fice, it was with a great degree of reluctance that I consented to offer myself as candidate for same; but my many friends, who for many years past have known me and have full knowledge of my principles, integrity and ability and also my sentiments and ideas concerning governmental affairs, assured me that if I would announce my candidacy for Governor on the Democratic ticket with my platform, that they wculd give me their hearty and undivided support Knowing that if my platform and principles appealed so strongly to them that they would also appeal to the people at large, I decided to enter the race and herewith submit my platform and candidacy for your approval. ' Trusting that it may find great favor with you, I am yours for a Greater S- G. A. COBB.
