Vol. XI. No, 258. 



THE AORICDLTURAL NEWS. 



87 



has been constructed from Tete, and wagons have been 

 sent out for transport purposes from Fort Jameson to Tete; 

 as a consequence the freight charges on cotton have been 

 reduced considerably. 



SUDAN. Mr. Hutton (the Chairman of the Association), 

 who will shortly be returning from his visit to Egypt and the 

 Sudan, reports most favourably on the developments in the 

 Tayiba district, and a shipment of 200 standard bales of 

 cotton is now on its way from Port Sudan. 



A statement regarding the present position of the 

 capital of the Association shows that the balance 

 remaining to be raised for the completion of the total 

 authorised capital of £.500,000 is £25,-589. 



RUBBER- YIELDING PLANTS FROM 



PERU. 



The following information concerning rubber- 

 yielding plants recently collected in Peru is taken 

 from the Kfw Bulletin, 1912, p. 74 : — 



Mr. W. Fox, on a recent journey in the territory between 

 the rivers Putumayo and Caqueta, collected five rubber-yield- 

 ing plants, about which he has furnished the following par- 

 ticulars, llevea Foxii, Hulier, is by far the most common 

 and the best rubber-yielding species, and is the source of the 

 Para rubber of commerce from this region. This species 

 bears the vernacular name of Ituri or Iserai, but these names 

 also appear to be applied to another species of Hevea, 

 allied to //. lutea. Of the rubber exported from thi.s region 

 7.5 per cent, is derived from l/erea Focii, and these trees are 

 the only ones which are properly tapped. All the other 

 rubber plants are cut down for the extraction of their latex. 



The Hevea is tapped by inci.'<ions made with a machete, 

 and the latex is allowed to run down the tree to the ground, 

 •where it coagulates. The rubber is recovered in strips, which 

 are taken to a stream and washed, and it is then rolled into 

 rabos or tails, in which form it arrives in London. This 

 crude method is due to the wide area over which the trees 

 are scattered. 



Mimtndra niinm; Benth., bearing the vernacular names 

 Huemega or Wakati Ewickeri, was found fairly evenly 

 distributed, l)Ut was becoming scarce owing to the destructive 

 methods of working. The latex of this tree is mixed with 

 that of the Hevea, and is also used for wrapping the rabos or 

 tails. 



A species of Castilloa, probably C. e/fJS'iVa, though some- 

 what different from the type, was also collected, but as leafy 

 specimens only; it bears the name Caucho negro or Efacone. 

 It is only found in quantities near the Caquet;i and Puta- 

 mayo liivers. The sections where the valuable Ca.stilloa 

 occurs have not yet been much worked, so that its destruc- 

 tion is not so marked as is the case with the other trees. 



Another tree yielding rubber is the Minyadotana, a new 

 species of Zschokkea described in the Kew Bulletin 1912, 

 p. 38, under the name Z. Fo.n'i, Stapf. The tree is not very 

 widely spread, and is becoming scarce owing to the methods 

 of working. The latex is used for mixing with that of the 

 Castilloa and the Hevea. 



Lastly, a gutta-yielding plant was found which ia prob- 

 ably Sideroxylon cyrtobotryum. Mart. This plant, which is 

 known by the native name Arorate, is rare and was met 

 ■with only at Oriente, near the Igara Parana, ^nd the yield is 

 therefore a negligible quantity 



SORE SHINS IN HORSES. 



The condition known as sore shins is an inflammation 

 of the periosteum, or sheath, which covers all the bones; it is 

 found on the anterior portion of tfte metacarpal, or cannon 

 bone, from the knee to the fetlock, particularly in the lower 

 third. It only occurs in the fore leg.s. 



CAUSE.S. It is dependent on the concussion brought about 

 by fast work, especially if on hard ground, before the bones 

 are able to stand the strain. Hence it is almost confined to 

 race-horses, the legs of which, from the nature of thsir work, 

 are likely to be affected, and two-year-olds are more liable 

 than three- or four-year olds; while the condition is almost 

 unknown after that age. 



The inflammation commences at the epiphyseal cartilages 

 at the end of the bone, extends along the bone, and may 

 affect its whole length in rare cases. If it is very severe, the 

 l>one itself is involved, and necrosis, or death, of the bone 

 may result. 



SYMPTOMS. Usually, it develops suddenly, generally after 

 hard exertion, and shows itself by severe lameness. The 

 horse rests the affected leg, and ' points' the foot. If both 

 legs are attacked, the animal rests them alternately. The leg 

 is carried forward stiflly, and the length of the step is short. 

 The swelling is confined to the cannon bone, usually in the 

 lower part, and is tense and puffy, later becoming softer and 

 more elastic. It is due to an inflammatory exudate poured 

 out between the periosteum and the bone, which in health are 

 in close apposition. The pain is from the pressure of this 

 exudate on the delicate nerves of the periosteum, and is 

 increased by the inelasticity of that membrane. 



In very acute caises, the horse may show constitutional 

 symptoms —fever, with increased pulse and signs of general 

 disturbance. 



In a given instance, it may be .said that the chances of 

 complete recovery are favourable if the condition is recognized 

 early, the exudate being absorbed, though slowly, leaving no 

 sign. If training is continued, the symptoms return, and are 

 more severe. On the other hand, if the exudate be already 

 large in amount, permanent thickening of the bone results, 

 either in the torm of nodules, or in thin layers on the surface 

 of the bone. 



TREATMENT. The first signs of lameness should be care- 

 fully looked for, and the work of the horse at once stopped. 

 Cold water, with astringents such as the usual salts of lead 

 or zinc, should be applied to the legs, to check the amount of 

 exudate, while, if the pain is excessive, a sedative such as 

 opium may be used. Gentle pressure is also beneficial. Medi- 

 cinal agents, in the form of laxative.s and febrifuges, may be 

 usefully employed, if constitutional symptoms are manifeited. 

 After the acute stage is over, iodine and similar agents pro- 

 mote absorption of the exudate, and prevent bone formation. 

 A blister is commonly advised at this stage. In those cases 

 which do not yield to treatment, surgical interference may 

 be resorted to, though experience shows that the results are 

 not always successful. 



Recovery is aided by a long rest, and the horse must b» 

 brought back into training gradually,- or the trouble will 

 recur. 



If the horse has not been unduly overworked, and yet 

 the condition arises, it is probable that the animal's legs are 

 not equal to the strain of hard work, and it becomes a questioa 

 if training as a race-horse may be profitably continued. 



