Page Six
STOCK-POISONING PLANTS IN THE
GENERAL VICINITY OF HEPPNER
Water Hemlock Poisoning:
Water hemlock is the most violent
ly poisonous of all of our poisonous
plants. All of the higher animals are
poisoned by it. In fact many cases
have been killed by eating small
pieces of the. rootstocks. Ewes are
are on record in which human beings
killed by 2 ounces of fresh tubers
and only ounce of air-dried, old
tubers (poisonous even after three
years of exposure!). Where livestock
have puddled the soil by trampling,
the poisonous resin from the roots
may be freed in sufficient quantity
to cause poisoning if animals drink
the puddled water containing the
squeezed-out resin.
Water hemlock occurs in our area,
it having been found e. g. on the
Frank Wilkinson home ranch in a
shaded glen along the bank of
Willow creek, in the west end.
For all those interested five live
plants are on display in the new
poisonous plant nursery at the Soil
Conserevation Service's CCC camp
here in town.
Our water hemlock is about IV2 to
2 feet tall, being a branching per
ennial with smooth, jointed hollow
stems and small white flowers in
an umbrella-like arrangement, pro
during flat, parsley-like seeds , it
resembles the common parsley, to
which it is related, in many ways
The plant grows from a vigorous
system of root-stocks. The leaflets
are arranged along each side of the
main leaf stem, the margins of each
leaflet being irregularly saw-toothed.
If you know of a plant that an
swers to this description you can
almost be certain it is water hem
lock if you give it two more tests:
1. Cut through the center of one of
the large rootstocks as you would
slice a pickle in two halves and look
for the central hollow space divided
into distinct chambers by a series of
cross partitions at right angles to
the cut 2. Break or cut a young
rootstock and look for a whitish, ar
omatic substance with a penetrating'
ly musty odor ooze out if this bro
ken portion is placed in water, look
for a thin film of oil droplets form
on the surface. If the chambers and
oily substance are present the plant
is water hemlock.
As it's name implies water hem
lock is found in close proximity to
streams, in low, wet meadows, and
along irrigation ditches in fact any
soil in which moisture is plentiful
the year around.
Other common names for water
hemlock are cicuta, cowbane, par
snip, wild parsnip, poison parsnip,
snakeroot, spotted hemlock, spotted
parsley, beaver poison, musquash
root, muskrat weed, death-of-man
and children's bane. Water hemlock
should not be confused with water
parsley or water parsnip the latter
are entirely different plants. Poison
hemlock is another plant which al
though poisonous, should not be con
fused with water hemlock.
The rootstocks of this plant are
poisonous at all seasons of the year
and may prove poisonous to stock if
trampled enough to be exposed. The
young shoots early in the spring
(having been out this year since the
latter part of February) are quite
poisonous, this constituting the most
dangerous period for stock. Sheep,
cattle and horses are all susceptible.
Young shoots in the fall may be
equally poisonous to those in the
spring. In general the parts above
ground are not as poisonous as those
underground.
The symptoms of poisoning are
first nausea and involuntary mus
cular movements, nervous quivering
of nose and lips, and slobbering and
frothing at the mouth. This is fol
lowed by groaning, clamping of the
jaws and gnashing of the teeth, and
violent convulsions. The head is bent
backward and the back arched, the
pupils of the eye are dilated with
either rapid kicking or rigid exten
sion of the legs. Usually there is an
excessive flow of urine and a notice
able diarrhea. Sheep perhaps more
than cattle have a tendency to bloat.
The pulse is weak and rapid, respir
ation labored and irregular. Affect
ed animals seem to suffer acute ab
dominal pain and mental excitement;
attempts to handle the animals only
increase the violence of the spasms.
The convulsions are intermittent and
increase in violence in fatal cases
until death finally ensues.
Heppner
Sometimes death follows only 15
minutes after eating the toxic
amount although more often it is 2
to 3 hours. In less severe cases ani
mals may live a day or two, and, if
the symptoms continue longer than
that time, the animal may recover.
A piece of the rootstock the size of
a walnut is sufficient to kill a cow.
Old tops do not seem to be poison
ous. Because this form of poisoning is
so virulent and quick-acting, and
convulsions so violent it is diffcult
if not impossible to administer treat
ment soon enough. If such should
be possible a very few animals might
be helped by the following: Hypo
dermic injections of morphine to
help control convulsions, giving Vh.
grains to sheep and 3 to 10 grains to
cattle and horses. A purgative may
be added to carry off the effects of
the poison. In the early stages a
drench of melted lard, bacon grease
or any fatty substance may be ef
fective. A substitute for the latter
might be a stomach wash of coffee
or whiskey.
Prevention rather than cure is the
only safe precaution. Because the
plant grows in wet ground it may
be grubbed easily, being sure that
you grub away the thickened root
stocks for this is what the plants
grow from; the other smaller, deep
er roots may be left in the ground.
This means grubbing down about 6
inches below the ground usually. The
plants grubbed out, especially the
rootstocks, should be piled in a hole,
burned and buried. One to three year
old exposed rootstocks are more
poisonous than fresh tubers. Some
times it is practical to grub out the
plant every year anew. On the other
hand it may be in a very few in-
stances more pactical to fence out
the infested area; the plants seldom
occur in more than scattered, small
stands. Great care should be taken
in identifying every locality and
niche in which this highly poisonous
plant exists.
STATE
CAPITAL
NEWS
o Fall Prospects
o Fair Allotment
o Capitol, July 1
By A. L. LINDBECK
SALEM Oregon Republicans,
taking renewed hope from the wide
split developed in the ranks of the
Democratic party in the recent pri
mary campaign, are counting strong
ly on a return to power with the fall
elections. In this they are banking
strongly on the permanence of the
bitterness developed between the
supporters of Governor Martin on
the one hand and those of Henry L.
Hess, the successful candidate for
the Democratic nomination, on the
other. Democrats who supported
Governor Martin, they feel, will
support Charles A. Sprague, the
Republican candidate, this -fall.
In their optimism, however, it is
entirely probable that the Republi
cans are overlooking two very im
portant factors both of which will
play a very important part in shap
ing up the fall campaign. One of
these is time, the great healer, which
can be expected to do a great deal
toward soothing savage Democratic
breasts during the intervening six
months before the next election. The
other factor which must be taken
into account in the forthcoming cam
paign is the national administration
and its "New Deal" program. The
forthcoming campaign is not going
to be confined to the personalities
of the two candidates for the gov
ernorship. The New Deal having
given its official blessing to Hess
prior to the primary election can be
expected to put forth its best efforts
to see him safely through this fall.
And no one at all familiar with the
political situation is discounting the
popularity of the New Deal, here in
Oregon as well as elsewhere thru
out the nation, and the power it
wields in political affairs once com
mitted to the task of supporting
some favored candidate.
Not only will the national admin
istration be interested in the elec
tion of . a Democratic governor in
Oregon this fall. It will also be in
Gazette Times, Heppner,
tensely interested in the election of
a United States senator and three
Congressmen committed to the sup
port of its program. In view of all the
New Deal has at stake here in Ore
gon it may be assumed even at this
early date that no stone will be left
unturned to keep Oregon in the
Democratic column if possible.
That the Democratic rift is serious
can not be disputed. Just how bitter
is the feeling between the two fac
tions can best be guaged by the fact
that so far Governor Martin has
failed to send his congratulations to
his successful rival, Henry Hess.
Furthermore, he has declared that
he never will. Sprague, the Repub
lican nominee, on the other hand has
received the congratulations, togeth
er with assurances of whole hearted
support from all seven of his rivals.
Rumors that Martin might yet en
ter the fall campaign as an indepen
dent candidate for governor are not
taken seriously here. A state law
prohibits such a move and even
though it might be possible to over
come this obstacle through court
action friends of the governor are
known to be strongly opposed to
such a procedure. In the meantime
the governor continues to sit in his
tent" intimating to newspapermen
that he will have "something to say"
about the political situation a little
later.
One-fourth of all claims for un
employment compensation so far
filed with the commission, have al
ready been paid in full, it was an
nounced this week. The 14,091 claims
satisfied in full totalled $1,292,896.
The weekly checks received by these
beneficiaries of the jobless insur
ance averaged $11.98.
On-fifth of all deaths in the Pa
cific northwest between the ages of
20 and 50 years are caused by tuber
culosis, according to Dr. Grover C
Bellinger, superintendent of the
state tuberculosis hospital at Salem,
The annual maneuvers of the Or
egon National Guard at Camp Clat
sop, June 14 to 28, will bring about
the largest concentration of troops
in the history of this state. More
than 3600 officers and men will as-
semble for the 15 days of intensive
training, according to Major General
George C. White.
Guard units from Portland, As
toria, Tillamook, St. Helens, Milwau
kie, Newberg and Gresham will
move to the camp by motor convoy,
requiring 107 trucks, 24 station wag
ons and three ambulances. Five
troop trains consisting of 23 tourist
sleepers, 24 coaches and 18 baggage
cars will be required to carry the
more distant units.
Camp Clatsop, rated as the finest
military training cantonment in the
United States, has been greatly im
proved since the Oregon troops last
assembled there in 1936, General
White points out. New roads have
been built, old roads improved, a
new natatorium and recreation build
ing has been completed, additional
tent frames and floors installed, bath
houses, mess halls and kitchens pro
vided to accommodate the increased
strength of th.e guard and extensive
landscaping added materially to the
attractiveness of the camp.
A camp supply team of ten men
from the State Detachment will go
to Camp Clatsop June 6 to prepare
for the issuance of food and other
supplies. They will be occompanied
by Lieutenant Colonel Raymond F.
Olson, quartermaster; Major Leo J.
A. Pironi, Captain George Bates and
Lieutenant-W. H. Adams.
Legislative approval will have to
be had before the Oregon World's
Fair commission can transfer the
$20,000 appropriated for the New
York fair to the San Francisco fair.
When the Oregon commission de
cided to withdraw from the New
York fair because it could not have
the site first allotted to this state, it
was announced that the two appro
priations would be consolidated and
spent on this states display at San
Francisco. Attorney General Van
Winkle this week ruled that this
could not be done by the commis
sion since the funds were appro
priated for specific purposes.
Oregon's new $2,500,000 capitol
building, now nearing completion,
will be ready for occupancy by July
1 but formal dedication of the build
ing will probably be postponed until
next January when the legislature
is in session, it was decided by the
Oregon
panitol commission here this week.
Carpets are now being laid in the
legislative chambers and finishing
touches are being rushed on the
interior of the building. Rugs, drapes
and furniture for the House and
Senate and the executive suite will
not be ready for several months. The
contractor expects to be off the job
by the middle of this month and the
work of moving into the new build
ing will get under way as soon there
after as the janitors can make tne
building habitable.
Work on the new $17,000 adminis
tration building at the state fair
grounds is well under way and the
first unit will be ready for occu
pancy before this year's fair opens
on Labor Day. This unit, in addi
tion to the adniinistrative offices
will also provide quarters for the
press, telephone and telegraph offi
ces, a first aid station and a radio
broadcasting booth.
Veterans of the Spanish-American
and World wars have a little less
than a month left in which to take
advantage of the loan provision of
the Oregon soldiers' bonus law. Jer
rold Owen, executive secretary to
the World War Veterans State Aid
commission, warns that the dead line
for loan applications expires June 30
WILLOWS GRANGE NEWS
Among the members of Willows
grange who attended the meeting
of Lexington grange on Saturday
night for initiation in the first and
second degrees were Mr. and Mrs.
J. O. Kincaid, Mrs. Ralph Ledbetter,
Helen Lindsay, Harriet Heliker, Mrs.
Ida Fletcher, Mrs. E. C. Heliker,
Marion and Marcel Krebs. Harry
Yarnell was a candidate from Wil
lows grange and received the init
iatory work with the class from Lex
ington grange.
The next meeting of Willows
grange H. E. club will be at the home
of Mrs. Peter Timm near Pendleton,
Friday, June 3. This is an all-day
pot-luck dinner meeting. All the
members are urged to attend.
Mr. and Mrs. D. A Wilson and
children were expected home yes
terday evening from Ritter where
they spent a few days outing. Mr.
Wilson, F. W. Turner and Harry
Duncan went to Ritter the middle
of last week and Mr. Wilson was
joined there by his family Monday.
Professional
Directory
A. D. McMurdo, M. D.
PHYSICIAN & SURGEON
Trained Nurse Auirtant
Office in Masonic Building
Heppner, Oregon
Morrow County
Abstract & Title Co.
INC.
ABSTRACTS OF TITLE
TITLE INSURANCE
Office in New Peters Building
F. W. Turner & Co.
FIRE, AUTO AND LIFE
INSURANCE
Old Line Companies Real Estate
Heppner, Oregon N
Jos. J. Nys
ATTORNEY AT LAW
Peters Building, Willow Street
Heppner, Oregon
Laurence Case
Mortuary
"Just the service wanted
when you want It most"
FOR BEST MARKET PRICES for
your new or old wheat, see
CORNETT GREEN
for grain stored in Heppner and
Lexington,
ELMER GRIFFITH
at lone, for rest of Branch
Representing Balfour, Guthrie ft Co.
Thursday, June 2, 1938
J. 0. Turner
ATTORNEY AT LAW
Phone 173
Hotel Heppner Building
HEPPNER, ORE.
Dr. Raymond Rice
PHYSICIAN & SURGEON
Office
First National Bank Building
Office Phone 523 House Phone 1
Heppner
Abstract Co.
J. LOG1E RICHARDSON, Mgr.
RATES REASONABLE
Roberts Building Heppner, Or
P.W. Mahoney
ATTORNEY AT LAW
GENERAL INSURANCE
Heppner Hotel Building
Willow St. Entrance
J. O. Peterson
Latest Jewelry and Gift Goods
Watches Clocks Diamonds
Expert Watch and Jewelry
Repairing
Heppner, Oregon
Vawter Parker
ATTORNEY-AT-LAW
First National Bank Building
Dr. Richard C. Lawrence
DENTIST
Modern equipment Including X-ray
for dental diagnosis .
Extraction by gas anesthetic
First National Bank Building
Phone 562 Heppner, Ore.
Dr. L D. Tibbies
OSTEOPATHIC
Physician & Surgeon
FIRST NATIONAL BANK BLDG.
Rec. Phone 1162 Office Phone 482
HEPPNER, OREGON
W. M. Eubanks
Representing
KERR, GIFFORD & CO., INC.
on Heppner Branch
V. R. Runnion
AUCTIONEER
Farm Sales and Livestock a Specialty
405 Jones Street, Heppner, Ore.
Phone 452
MAKE DATES AT Iff? EXPENSE
Frank C. Alfred
ATTORNEY AT LAW
Telephone 442
Rooms 3-4
First National Bank Building
HEPPNER, OREGON
Peterson & Peterson
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
U. S. National Bank Building
PENDLETON, OREGON
Practice In State and Federal Courts
Real Estate
General Line of Insurance and
Bonds
,W. M. EUBANKS
Notary Publlo
Phone 62 lone. Ore.
A Home for the Aged
Home-like care and surroundings
with graduata nurse In constant
charge. Inquire for rates, including
room and meals.
Morrow General Hospital
Mrs. L. G. Rumble, Mgr.