g6 Journal of Agriculture. [lo Feb., 1909. 



slaughtered beast immediatelv after death. No marked stiffening of the 

 hides was noticed, but putrefactive changes were considerably less advanced 

 than usual in spite of the fact that hot weather prevailed during the 

 outbreak. 



The only really constant lesion discovered was acute inflammation of 

 the abomasum and duodenum. In the slaughtered beast the mucosae were 

 found to be excoriated in patches, varying in size from a pin point to a 

 large pea. These were distributed all over the abomasum, and the inter- 

 vening areas of inflammation were, in parts, covered with blood clots. 



In three out of the four autopsies the leaves of the first, .second, and 

 third stomachs peeled off readily and revealed hypersemic mucous and sub- 

 mucous layers beneath, and in one instance, a straw coloured exudate about 

 I inch thick and 3 inches in diameter was discovered in the peritoneal folds 

 between the rumen and the abomasum. 



With regard to the other organs, no constant pathological changes were 

 observed. Petechial spots on the endocardium and on the mucous lining of 

 the gall bladder were noticed in one instance, and an excessive amount of 

 fluid escaped from the abdomen at the second autopsy, but the outbreak 

 was too sudden to permit of the development of those morbid phenomena — - 

 fatty degeneration, emaciation, mummification, ulceration — that characterise 

 more chronic cases of arsenical poisoning. 



THE PROCLAIMED PLANTS OF VICTORIA. 



(Continued from fage 32.) 



Alfred J. Ewari, D.Sc., P/i.D., F.L.S., Government Botanist; and 

 J. R. Tovey, Herbarium Assistant. 



Bindv;;-eed.. 



Convolvulus arvensis, L. {C onzolvulacece.) 



A perennial with annual twining stems, arrow-shaped leaves, and rather 

 pretty, pinkish flowers. The plant is one of the later introductions, and 

 is very troublesome in cultivated ground. Its twining stems choke the 

 plants to which it attaches itself, aj.d its creeping underground stems 

 render it difficult to eradicate, since quite small pieces will start fre'^h 

 growths, and the stems are often a foot below the surface. The weed is 

 especially troublesome in light friable soil, and in corn crops. Badly in- 

 fected land should be deeply ploughed, and the underground stems 

 harrowed or raked out. Where patches are present they should be forked 

 out. The free use of the hoe in spring, and the growth of a leafy fodder or 

 a root crop well encouraged by manure will help to keep down the plant and 

 prevent its flowering. The seeds have a verv prolonged vitality in the 

 soil, and hence the prevention of flowering and seeding is very important. 

 The plant is less mechanically dangerous on pasture, but the leaves are 

 bitter, the underground stems purgative, and the seeds (four in each 

 rounded capsule) are poi-sonous to stock if eaten in any quantity. Rotation 

 farming coupled with occasional bare fallowing aids in keeping down a 

 weed of this kind. Great care should be taken to avoid introducing it with 

 impure seed, as has commonlv occurred during the past. Its dark, some- 

 what triangular and roughened seeds are easilv recognised. When ground 

 in flour they spoil its colour, and render it injurious if present in any 

 quantity. 



