100 



GROUND FEEDS. 



A Case of 

 Poisoning 



A typical case of its action may be cited. A sample of 

 shorts was received from a farmer, together with com- 

 plaints that two of his pigs were already dead, 

 and that the same would have been true of 

 all the rest had he not discontinued the use 

 of the feed. On casual examination, the sample appeared 

 excellent. The microscope, however, revealed the pre- 

 sense of quantities of Mustard seed, very finely ground.* 

 The seed, which must have been deliberately added to the 



* 





Five times 



Fig. 22. Seeds of Wild Mustard Brassica arvensis. 



natural size. 



shorts, had served two purposes. In the first place it was a 

 cheap adulterant, and secondly, it raised the fat and pro- 

 tein content of the feed as shown by chemical analysis. 



A request for further information brought the follow- 

 ing reply from the fanner: "The pigs came up to the 

 trough and after feeding would fall back in a fit and 

 kick about two minutes, then jump up and stagger a little. 

 After wandering around the pen for a few days 

 they died, eating little in the meantime. They showed 

 agony when dying, kicking and frothing at the mouth." 



"The complete separation of weed seeds is an essential prelim- 

 inary to the milling of wheat, as otherwise a good grade of flour 

 is not produced. Bran and shorts are therefore pure when they 

 come from the mill. 



