94 Journal of Agriculture. [lo Feb., 1909. 



ARSENICAL POISONING IN CATTLE. 



IF. /. Colebatch, B. Sc. {Agr.), M.R.C.V.S., Assistant Chief Veterinary 



OiRcer. 



Outbreaks of arsenical poisoning amongst live stock are fortunately so 

 rare as to immediately attract the attention and interest of all farmers, 

 stockmen, and veterinarians. It is true that sheep are sometimes poisoned 

 through being dipped in arsenical solutions when over-travelled and thirsty ; 

 or again, they may suffer as the result of prolonged dipping, or from eating 

 herbage on which the drippings have fallen. Cattle however, are not as a 

 rule exposed to such dangers, and, except when located in the vicinity of 

 noxious chemical and smelting works or when made the victims of accident 

 or malice, they rarely suffer from arsenical poisoning in any form. In 

 those countries however where cattle require to be dipped, smeared, or 

 sprayed with arsenical mixtures, or where the practice obtains of spraying 

 trees or pastures with toxic preparations for the eradication of animal or 

 vegetable pests, serious losses not infrequently occur. 



In this connexion, it may be interesting to refer to an article on 

 "Poisoning of Stock with Arsenic" which appeared in the November 

 issue of the Veterinary Journal. The author, Mr. L. E. W. Bevan, 

 M.R.C.V.S., Government Veterinary Suigeon, Rhodesia, there records his 

 observations in regard to a number of cases of arsenical poisoning amongst 

 stock grazing on sprayed pastures. It appears that, in Rhodesia, the 

 ravages of the locust are so serious that the practice of spraying the grass 

 paddocks with a solution of arsenite of soda and brown sugar has been 

 instituted. Whilst this may be efficacious in regard to the young locusts, it 

 is often followed by disastrous results amongst the cattle, as the latter 

 naturally cling to the sprayed areas on account of the sweet flavour of the 

 herbage. Arsenical poisoning arising from this practice, is peculiarly 

 interesting at the present juncture, inasmuch as two serious outbreaks have 

 occurred in this State during the past month. As regards one of these, 

 the particulars cannot at present be recorded as the matter may possibly be 

 the subject of review in the law courts. In the other case, which occurred 

 at Camberwell, the source of the arsenic was not discovered, but it is known 

 that the cattle were in the habit of road grazing. 



History of Camberwell Outbreak. — There were 23 Jersey grade 

 cows, seven or eight calves, and a bull in the herd ; and of these, nine cows 

 and a calf died. The farm, which has been considerably over-stocked, 

 comprises 18 or 19 acres of bare land, no attempt having been made to 

 grow forage of any kind, and consequently the cattle are fed wholly on 

 dry fodder, viz. : — oaten hav, bran, and pollard. All the stock on the 

 farm have access to the same water trough which is divided into two parts. 

 The dairyman is cleanlv in his methods, feeds literally, and the stock are 

 all in good order. There have been no suspicious deaths on the farm 

 hitherto, only two head having been lost during the last two years. One 

 heifer died from eating sand this year, and another, about two years ago, 

 fell into a creek that runs through the property and broke her neck. 



The cows were apparently all right on the evening of loth December 

 at milking time. During the night they got out on to the road and 

 wandered away to graze but returned to be milked next morning ap- 

 parently none the worse. 



About half-past four that afternoon the owner observed that four cows 

 appeared dull, refused to eat, and gave very little milk. He noticed 

 further that two others were standing by themselves in the paddock, stag- 



