216 J. A. Gilruth: 



tlic lusc of the two iiisL fXpuriiucntal horses and of the cow, a 

 luiiiuhitive effect of the poison might be inferred, but the experience 

 with the knacker's horse, Avhich received only one feed, and with 

 experimental horse E. 1-3 (the former of which showed symptoms only 

 hve days after ingestion of a small quantity of the abnormal fodder, 

 the latter four days after feeding on this Avas discontinued) negative 

 such an assumption being regarded as a complete explanation. The 

 best analogue of this poison, whatever may be its nature and 

 source, is the toxin of tetanus, which has a so-called period of incu- 

 baton of four to hve days, due to tlie time taken in reaching the 

 cells of the central nervous system v/a the nerves, instead of by the 

 blood stream. The Rabies virus offers to some extent another 

 analogy, but there it is the living entity tliat travels along the 

 nerves, and probably liberates the toxin in sih/. 



At all events the whole circumstances seeni to indicate the study 

 of tlie native flora in the affected districts as a field of research offer- 

 ing tlie most fruitful possibilities. Had the fodder with which I 

 experimented been uncut, I sliould have had the comijoncnt plants 

 of a large quantit}- segregated after the first two experiments, and 

 conducted feeding experiments with each lot. As this was not pos- 

 sible, I requested the Hon. G. Graham, the Minister of Agriculture, 

 to have a botanical survey made by the Government Botanist of the 

 farm in the Western district whereon I had seen the most typical 

 cases of cattle paralysis, to which he kindly consented. This Avas 

 done, and I append a copy of the report which I received. 



The native plants should be secured in some quantity; if necessary 

 they should be aitificially cultivated, especially the ssenecios, pim- 

 jicrnels, isotomas and lobelias, and thorough tests made with each 

 Oil both horses and cattle. 



Mr. -McKachran, at my suggestion, is proposing to earry out, at 

 tlic first opportunity, certain experiments witU dry unchaffed 

 fodder, where there has been an epidemic, the endeavour being 

 to segregate the different plants, and carry out feeding experiments 

 with each. 



So far as treatment is concerned, I am sure efficacy will only be 

 attained by a sttidy of the poison after it has been isolated, or at 

 * least after its origin has been discovered, and meanwhile all endea- 

 vours should ])C directed towards that end. 



