Animal Meth

A scientist who was dubbed insane, named Crookes, had taken to the study of selenium.  Selenium gets its name from selene, or the Greek word for moon.  The moon is associated with "lunacy", which is just a pretty word for "crazy." We all (animals) have traces of selenium in our bodies. If we don't have any in our bloodstream, it may signal AIDS.  In large doses, though, selenium is toxic.  There is a plant that grows in the western United States affectionately named locoweed.  It's in the pea family, and some varieties take selenium from the soil.  Cattle seem to really like locoweed.  If ingested, the cattle begin to stagger and stumble around, almost as if they were drunk.  They get fevers and break out in sores.  They also become gaunt and anorexic.  Ranchers call it the blind staggers.  Cows love it though! They get addicted to the locoweed and will eat nothing but it.  It's concluded that the selenium overdose is what causes their symptoms.