Poii^onoaii Speck''^ of Homer ia at Pascoe Vale. 213 



to determine whether feeding upon this plant would cause 

 death. On making the post-mortem, we found the mucous 

 membrane of the stomach and intestines congested. The 

 rabbit kept for control was lively and well as usual. 



On Saturday, loth October, the third rabbit which had 

 been fed dui'ing the week on green food and was quite 

 lively, was placed upon the same diet. About 6 ]).m. it was 

 given the freshly cut Homeria plant, which it readily ate. 

 On Sunday morning it was drowsy, eyes half-closed and 

 distinctly ill. Towards evening, there wei-e distinct traces 

 of scouring in the cage. At 11 p.m. it was still alive, but 

 on Monday morning, 17th October, it died at 7 o'clock. 



Post-mortem. — Externally marked evidence of scouring 

 action on tail, ^^c. The liver congested, kidneys slightly 

 congested. Bladder full, which was also observed in the 

 other two rabbits. Before opening the stomach, little spots 

 like ulcers could be seen in the w^all, and on opening it was 

 found to contain a quantity of the herb and some mucus. 

 The contents were moister than in the other two rabbits, 

 and marked corrosion was visible. The mucous membrane 

 was completely charred in places, similar in fact to what 

 would have been expected if strong sulphuric acid had been 

 administered. When these black spots were removed, i-ound 

 patches of inflammation were visible, and on hi)lding the 

 stomach up to the light, these ])atches w^ere very conspicuous, 

 looking like little ulcers. Tlie enti'-e intestinal trnct was 

 congested. 



Several more rabbits were obtained from the same quai-ter, 

 and on Thursday, 2()th October, two were again selected 

 for feeding on the Homeria plant. This was given to 

 them about 5 ]).m., along with water, tiud next inorning, 

 21st October, one had died. On examination, the stomach 

 was full and congested. The second i-abbit was found dead 

 on Saturday morning, 22nd October, and the appearance of 

 the stomach was similar to the tirst, only the peeling off of 

 the mucous membi'ane was more marked. More of the plant 

 had been eaten in the latter case. 



In these experiments live healthy and lively i-a])bits were 

 taken, and so sure as they were fed upon the Homeria. plant, 

 so surely did they die, within tw(» days at the most, while 

 other rabbits similarly kept, but fed on oi'dinary f<^od, 

 remained alive, and as fresh as' when first received. Pie- 

 cautions were taken to exclude all disturbing elements, so 



