SYMPTOMS PRODUCED BY THE LEGUMINOUS POISON-PLANTS. 



In the reports received from different parts of the colony the 

 icts produced on animals by the poisons are often set down to 

 the poison plants as a whole, some asserting plainly that they are 

 all alike in their action, others placing their information opposite 

 one or more of the varieties indicated in the schedule, according to 

 their experience. This may, perhaps, betaken to indicate a general 

 agreement in poisonous properties among those poison plants that 

 are most prevalent and best known. The great majority belong to 

 the two genera of the family Leguminosae,Gastrolobium andOxylobium, 

 whieh are at the same time closely allied botanically, and not always 

 easily distinguished one from the other. It should be understood, 

 however, that though similarity in properties may co-exist with 

 botanical relationship, plants in the same family often possessing 

 similar qualities as well as similar structure, yet the agreement in 

 both these respects does not always or necessarily follow. 



The symptoms reported by the different observers include the 

 following : The poisoned animal has a strange expression, the eyes 

 having a wild look ; fulness over the eyes, twitching of the eyelids; 

 it rushes about in any direction as if terrified or mad ; sometimes 

 stands trembling, or shuffles along as if its limbs were stiff, or it 

 staggers and falls. There is difficulty of breathing, and slobbering 

 at the mouth, and if driven the animal may drop dead. Griping 

 and stoppage of the bowels take place, with distension more par- 

 ticularly noted immediately after death. 



So long ago as 1842 Drummond wrote as follows : " The 

 finest and strongest animals are the first victims ; a difficulty of 

 breathing is perceptible for a few minutes, when they stagger, drop 

 down, and all is over with them. After the death of the animal the 

 stomach assumes a brown colour, and is tenderer than it ought to 

 be ; but it appears to be that the poison enters the circulation, and 

 altogether stops the action of the lungs and heart. The raw Hesh 

 poisons cats, and the blood, which is darker than usual, dogs ; but 

 the roasted or boiled fiesh is eaten by the natives and some of the 

 settlers without their appearing to suffer any inconvenience." 



The effect of the poison on dogs appears to be much the same 

 as on grazing animals. Mr. John Wray says : " I have on different 

 occasions had dogs go mad after eating sheep that had died of 

 poison. They rush about as if terrified, and sometimes have 

 threatened the shepherds. They will run away till they drop dead, 

 but I have saved a few by getting them in in time and tying them up, 

 so that they could not run away." Violent exertion is very apt to 

 bring the poisonous action to a climax, the animal dropping dead 

 when allowed to rush about in its delirious condition, or when 

 driven, especially uphill. 



Chewing of the cud is said by some to be unnecessary before 

 the poison takes effect, while a draught of water hastens its action. 

 This indicates, of course, the necessity for the poisonous con- 



