Custer, selenium and swainsonine

The Battle of Little Bighorn was fought over 100 y ago but many controversi es remain. Some Feel the defeat of Custer could have been avoided if Bentee n and Reno had united with Custer. A slow-moving pack train may have hinder ed the troops of Benteen and Reno From joining up with Custer. One report i ndicated the horses and mules in the pack train were lame and behaved crazi ly It has been previously suggested that the animals had selenium toxicosis . We propose the lameness could have been caused by selenium, but that the behavioral problems may have been caused by the ingestion of plants contain ing swainsonine.