512 Journal of Agricultural Research vol. xx, no. 6 



TOXIC AND LETHAL DOSES 



The smallest dose producing death in the experimental work was that 

 given to sheep 550, which received o. 11 pound (49.89 gm.) per hundred- 

 weight of animal. The smallest dose producing symptoms was that 

 given to sheep 548, 0.066 pound (29.9 gm.) per hundredweight of animal. 

 Inasmuch as sheep 523 received 0.066 pound (29.9 gm.) per hundred- 

 weight without effect, it appears that this quantity is about the lowest 

 limit of toxicity. 



Sheep 463 is noted in Table I as receiving on September 25, 1918, 0.928 



pound per hundredweight of animal without effect. However, there is 



no doubt that its illness on September 26, followed by death, was really 



the result of the feeding of September 25, for, as is shown elsewhere, 



the toxic symptoms ordinarily do not appear until about 24 hours after 



the feeding. 



CUMULATIVE EFFECT 



The experiments show clearly that the toxic substance of Daubentonia 

 is excreted very slowly, so that poisoning may result from repeated 

 administration of quantities somewhat below the toxic dosage. Sheep 

 520 and 518 received three doses each of 0.044 pound (19.95 g m -) P er 

 hundredweight of animal, administered on alternate days. These 

 doses produced illness in both cases. Since the smallest single dose 

 producing illness was 0.066 pound (29.9 gm.) per hundredweight, it is 

 evident that there was a cumulative effect in these animals. 



In this connection it should be noted that sheep 372 received on alter- 

 nate days from July 31 to August 20, 0.022 pound (9.9 gm.) per hundred- 

 weight with no bad results. 



COMPARATIVE TOXICITY OF PARTS OF THE PLANT 



Only two experiments were made in feeding dry leaves. In sheep 

 556, mild symptoms were produced by 0.661 pound per hundredweight 

 of animal. This indicated a much lower toxicity than that in the seeds. 



The experimental work with extracts on guinea pigs showed that the 

 toxicity was also present in the dry pods. The experiments of feeding 

 pods to the sheep, however, were entirely negative, although as much as 

 1.653 pounds (716 gm.) per hundredweight was fed. It is evident that, 

 as compared with the seeds, the pods are only slightly toxic and are 

 not likely to cause any damage to live stock. 



ANIMALS AFFECTED BY THE PLANT 



Dr. Reidy's report was in regard to the loss of sheep, and the experi- 

 mental work of the department has confirmed the toxicity of Dauben- 

 tonia for these animals. Dr. Dwight H. Bennett, of the Texas Agricultural 

 Experiment Station, has reported a case of the loss of 500 goats which 

 were probably killed by this plant. At the present time there is no 



