AN INVESTIGATION OF MILLET. 



(Abstract.) 



By L. E. Sayre. University of Kansas, Lawrence. 



ON MARCH 8, 1910, I received a letter from O. O. Wolf, secre- 

 tary of the State Board of Veterinary Examiners, Ottawa, 

 Kan., enclosing a letter, which read as follows: 



Dear Sir— Last week I wrote a party at Wakefield to send you a sample 

 of millet, which I would be glad to have you examine. 



The millet was grown on ground that had been in alfalfa for eleven 

 years, and used as a hog pasture for nine years prior to the time of sowing 

 the millet. It was thought, from the great amount of nitrogen that would 

 naturally be stored up in the soil as a result of this treatment, possibly 

 some cyanide had developed in the millet. Ten head of horses have died on 

 the farm where this was grown, in a short time— since December 13, 1909. 

 On the evening previous to that date the horses were fed millet, and one 

 was dead in the morning. One died the next morning and one on the day 

 following. Two of them were found dead in their stalls, while the remain- 

 ing eight lasted from one to ten days. A young mare is still alive that has 

 been ailing for over three weeks. They received no millet since the 15th of 

 December. 



They go down and are unable to get up. The one still alive can stand 

 and get around when helped up. They lose control of the tail, have diffi- 

 culty in swallowing, and seem nervous. Aside from that they are appar- 

 ently normal; appetite good, temperature nearly normal, occasionally sub- 

 normal; pulse usually somewhat increased in frequency. 



Will greatly appreciate any suggestion you may make. 



Yours very truly, 0. O. Wolf. 



Two hundred and fifty grams of the above millet, consisting of 

 leaves, stems and a few tops, were ground to a very fine powder by 

 aid of the drug mill. The resulting powder was extracted by proc- 

 ess of percolation, using as the menstruum an alcoholic solution — 

 alcohol three parts and water one part. The tincture thus obtained 

 had a decided green color, with a light brownish tint. 



The tincture was evaporated to a small volume, 25 cc, at a tem- 

 perature not exceeding 55° C, a fan, blowing hot, dry air over the 

 tincture, being used to hasten vaporization. 



To this concentrated solution 50 cc. of NioHCl were added, 

 immediately causing a heavy resinous precipitate to be deposited. 

 The acidulated solution was filtered into a separatory funnel and 

 shaken out with immiscible solvents, using 15 cc. of ether twice 

 and 10 cc. of ether twice, and again shaken with the same amount 



(189) 



