POISONING OF cattlp: with nitrate of sodium. 



From the fact that large quantities of strong chemicals are being 

 used as fertilizers by our farmers, we believe the case as detailed 

 below is of sufficient interest to warrant its publication, showing 

 what the results may be if they are not carefully handled. 



On the thirty-first of last May in company wiih Dr. J. B. Lindsey, 

 vice-director of the Massachusetts Agricultural Expeiiment Station, 

 I had occasion to investigate a case in which eleven cows of a herd 

 of lifteen liad died as a result of giving nitrate of sodium, in place 

 of chloride of sodium. 



The history of the case given by the owner was as follows. The 

 fifteen cows had been in the pasture during the da}'. Between five 

 and six o'clociv in the afternoon they were driven to the stable and 

 all at that time appeared perfectly well. 



When in the stable a man, a native of Poland, whose worl? it was 

 to care for the cattle, gave to all except two what he supposed to be 

 common coarse-fine salt, thoroughly mixed with a small quantity of 

 wheat bran. Two had no bran, but in place had clear salt. So far 

 as is known all of the animals ate lieartily of the salt. 



About eight o'clock of the same evening the noise made by the 

 cows attracted the attention of one of the men about the place, who 

 upon investigating the cause of the disturbance found that they 

 appeared to be uneasy and to show symptoms of suffering pain. 

 Within an hour or two several had died. 



A practitioner of human medicine was called to treat the animals 

 and thinking the trouble due to arsenic prescribed dialized iron, raw 

 eggs, etc. The treatment seemed to avail nothing and before morn- 

 ing eleven of the herd were dead. Of the four which lived, three 

 showed all of the symptons exhibited by those which had died, the 

 fourth did not appear to be affected at all and the question arises as 

 to whether she was given any of the salt as none was found in or 

 about her manger the following day. 



