11 Dec, 1916.] Mortality of Dairy Coh'm, Hamilton. 729 



sign will be slowniess of mastication and difficulty of swallowing; tem- 

 perature sub-iiormal, and heart and- respiration little affected, and the 

 bladder and bowels inactive. There is but slight rigidity of the muscles, 

 if any, and no evidence of pain is apparent. Such may last a 

 few days, and then a gradual ^improvement occurs, or the paralysis 

 may become more complete, and the general weakness more marked, 

 paroxysms of delirium develop, with inability to stand, breathing be- 

 comes more laboured, coma comes on, and death results apparently 

 without a struggle. This form lasts from six days to two weeks. As 

 a rule, the pod-morteni examination reveals no naked eye changes in 

 the tissues of animals dead of forage poisoning. 



In acute cases of forage poisoning, treatment is seldom successful, 

 but quick-acting stimulants may be tried. In sub-acute cases a purge 

 should be given to clear the intestines of the poisons. Strychnine in 

 large doses to overcome the extreme depressions of the nerve centres, 

 and atropin to supjiort a failing circulation may be administered hypo- 

 dermatically, at frequent intervals, with benefit. In very mild cases 

 all that is necessary is to empty the bowels with a purge, and put the 

 animal on feed above suspicion." 



After reading the above statements and descriptions, and the treat- 

 ment recommended, by the authorities mentioned, the following facts 

 regarding methods of treatment which have been successful here, should 

 be interesting: — Drenching with kerosene one cupful, water same quan- 

 tity, and a tablespoonful of carbonate of soda, is a decided success; 

 a decoction of a wild herb " sneezewort " and a decoction of yarrow 

 and wormwood also gives good results. The wormwood is a jjowerful 

 stimulant, and it is a vermifuge, and the yarrow takes the place of 

 the atropin, as it affects the circulation. Professor Ewart says that 

 an allied species of the " sneezewort " is used as a vermifuge, but 

 that is all that he could say of it as a medicine. Yet I am satisfied 

 from the reports of its effects, that it is a powerful stimulant also. 

 Care must be taken that none of these agents are forced into the lungs, 

 and when the aninuvl is unable to swallow the medicine, a ))iece of 

 guttapercha pii)ing should be employed, and at Mr. P. Fry's farm 

 at Victoria Valley I saw a very good device for this purpose. .V piece 

 of wood with two holes bored in it so that it can be tied on as a gag 

 and a third hole large enough foi- the piping is bored through the 

 middle, and with a fuiniel you can pour in a dose throiigh the tube. 

 As a number of cows have died during the past spring, and also since 

 the New Year, and as the remedies that 1 speak of are not as Avell 

 known as they deserve to be, I consider that the information is valuable, 

 but tlie facts of paramount importance are those relating to tlie pi-c- 

 dis])osing causes, 'i'iiough there is an infection or ])()is(»iiing in opera- 

 tion, it is certainly associated with malnutrition. The districts most 

 affected are those wliich are very deficient in phosphate of lime, and 

 in such areas the herbage is harsh nnd innntritious. Pliosphate of 

 lime is necessary fur i he vigorous and healtliy growth of grass, and it i.s 

 essential to the sound health of animals. If it is deficient, there cannot 

 be tile nervous energy that is needecl for metabolism, and, in con- 

 sequence, there is a lowered rc^sistance to disease or the invasion by 

 micro-organisms. In ;i disea.se like anilirax the control of infection 

 is the salient point, Inil in respect to meningitis the medical profession 

 em|ihasi/.e the necessity of hnihlini: n)> the general health, ami th(>reby 



