248 ON THE TOOT-POISON OF NEW ZEALAND. 
most all cases, is the young Shoot, which is tender and succulent, resem- 
bling in appearance and taste the similar state of Asparagus. nq 
3. The following Peculiarities exist in regard to the action of the 
Toot-poison :—a. A predisposition must exist, such predisposition 
being produced in cattle and sheep by some of the following conditions 
or circumstances:—The animal is not habituated to the use of the plants 
it suddenly makes a large meal thereof after long fasting, or long feed- 
ing on drier and less palatable materials, or after exhaustion by hard 
labour or hot dry weather.. From some such cause, the digestive sys- 
tem is deranged, and is susceptible of more serious disorder from the 
ingestion of food to which the animal is, at the time, unaccustomed. 
Hence Toot-poisoning frequently occurs in animals which have just 
been landed from a long and fatiguing sea-voyage, during which they - 
have been underfed or starved, to whom the young Toot-shoots present 
the most juicy, fresh, pleasant diet. 4. On the other hand, the same 
kinds of animals, habituated to the use of the Toot-plant, not only do 
not suffer at all, but for them it is regarded as quite equal in value to, 
and as safe as, clover as a pastoral food. It is an equal favourite with 
cattle and sheep, whether they have been habituated or not. c. The 
predisposition in man is probably produced by analogous conditions, 
- repressing the tone of his nervous and digestive systems, or directly 
deranging them. Children are affected, out of all proportion to adults. 
d. Adults, who have suffered from the poisonous action of Toot, under 
certain circumstances, have been exempt from such action under certain 
others,—the same parts of the plant having been used, and apparently 
in the same way, in both sets of instances. Moreover, the Toot-berries — 
enjoy, both among the Maoris and colonists, an enviable notoriety, on 
account of the agreeable and harmless wine and jellies they are capa? 
of yielding, the former whereof, especially, has long been greatly prized: 
The seeds, however, in these cases, probably do not enter into the com- 
position of the said wines or jellies. y SR 
13111 
; 4, The current Remedies for Toot-poisoning among the settlers are - 
in regard to—a. Cattle and sheep—mainly bleeding, by slashing tbe: = 
ears and tails. Belladonna has been variously tried, and favour»? 
reported on ; by others, stimulants are regarded as specifics (carbonate — 
of ammonia, brandy, Ora mixture of gin an d turpenti ne, locally known dt 
udis drench”). Whatever be the nature of the remedy, there s 09 - 2 
difference of opinion as to the necessity for the promptest treatments — 
ee re ec e 
