286 EXPEEIMENT STATION RECORD. 



The amount fed ranged from i lb. per day, at the start, to G lbs. The first 

 symptoms of poisoning in one case began on the fourteenth day and consisted 

 of a crouching gait, partial loss of muscular control, pale bluish color of the 

 mucuous membranes, and occasionally a subnormal temperature. The symp- 

 toms of staggering were most apparent on cold, rainy days. Decoctions of 

 horsetail were also made and given to horses. 



The authors conclude from their experiment that horsetail is not present in 

 the hay of Nebraska in sufficient quantities to be dangerous to horses, but that 

 in large amounts this weed might prove fatal. 



Occurrence of barium in the Ohio Valley brines and its relation to stock 

 poisoning', C. L). IIowaku {West Virginia tSta. Bui. l(l,i, /ip. .^si-2!:)5). — From 

 time to time reports have been given of farm animals dying under symptoms 

 of poisoning without the cause being definitely determined, but the suspicion 

 pointing to the salt used in each case. 



An analysis of samples of brine obtained from the Ohio Valley of West Vir- 

 ginia showed the presence of barium chlorid in quantities ranging from 21 to 

 46 grains per gallon of brine. The barium chlorid is a highly poisonous drug 

 causing a great increase of blood pressure and other effects similar to those of 

 digitalis. The symptoms of poisoning resemble those of nitrate of potash, but 

 the barium chlorid is nuich more poisonous. If the brine is treated with sodium 

 sulphate or soda ash the barium, lime, and magnesium contained in the brine 

 will be removed and the salt obtained from it will be of better quality for 

 general use. 



Brief notes are given on the character of the salt ol)tained in West Virginia 

 and on the antiseptic properties of chlorid of lime and barium. 



KURAL ENGINEERING. 



First annual convention of the North. Dakota drainage league: The In- 

 ternational drainage conference {Grand Forks. X. Dak.: Press Puh. Co.. 1906, 

 pp. 89). — The report of the North Dakota Drainage League contains an address 

 by Hon. J. L. Cashel suggesting the desirability of including drainage projects 

 under the provisions of the National lieclamation I^aw ; an address by G. A. 

 Ralph in which he discusses drainage projects completed or under construction 

 in Minnesota ; a paper on the relation of the office of State engineer to drainage 

 problems, by A. L. Fellows ; an address by C. G. Elliott in which he treats of the 

 need and value of drainage, its results in other localities, and its legal phases, 

 particularly with reference to assessment for the expenses of drainage improve- 

 ments and the avoidance of unnecessary litigation ; and a paper by J. T. 

 Stewart on the drainage problems of the Red River Valley as related to the; 

 Dakota side, in which the more technical phases of the question are discussed, 

 with an outline of a scheme of drainage to give the best service at the least cost. 

 Papers and addresses were delivered at the International Drainage Conference 

 by Hon. ,J. L. Cashel, Prof. E. F. Chandler, Prof. W. R. Hoag, C. H. Dancer, of 

 Manitoba, and G. A. Ralph. 



Subsurface drainage of land by tile, R. E. Horton {Reprinted from Mich. 

 Engin., 1906, pp. 22, fif/s. 8). — This is an attempt to place upon a mathematical 

 basis the determination of the amount of water i-emovable by tile drains in a 

 given time, their distance, and size. The treatise is based upon formulje 

 derived by Slichter for the flow of water through soils, which the author has 

 adapted to the present purpose. These fornmhe involve constants depending 

 upon the porosity of the soil and the effective diameter of the soil grains. 

 In order to make the formuhip applicable, the constants ai'e given for a number 

 of cases. The lesults of typical problems seem to check with successful prac- 



