70 Amentaceae [ch. 



have eaten them. In France, cattle taken to the forests for grazing pur- 

 poses browse on the young shoots and leaves of the oak, and after some 

 days there arises a trouble long known as Mai de Brou or Maladie des 

 Bois, which may end fatally, sometimes even in 24 hours (see Symptoms 

 below). A case was also reported from Nebraska in 1903, ten head of 

 cattle having apparently died from eating oak leaves, the trimmings 

 from trees. The stomachs were full of the leaves, and the intestines 

 had the appearance of being burned in places. There was no evidence 

 of impaction. When the cut branches were removed no more cattle 

 were lost. 



Serious losses have been caused through the ingestion of acorns by 

 young cattle not over about two years old, the years 1808, 1870, 1884, 

 and 1900 being especially noteworthy in this respect. Cattle over three 

 years old have seldom been affected, while sheep and pigs, if not immune 

 to "acorn poisoning," are but slightly affected. Miiller, however, 

 states that horses, cattle, sheep, and goats are affected; 9 quarts 

 (10 litres) taken in four days were sufficient to cause poisoning in the 

 case of a bullock. It is believed by some observers that half-ripe acorns 

 — e.g. acorns which may drop owing to drought— are more injurious 

 than thoroughly ripened acorns. 



Some authorities appear to be of the opinion that "acorn poisoning" 

 is not actually poisoning, but a serious form of indigestion. If this be 

 so the symptoms must be regarded as exceedingly severe. There is 

 no doubt that "acorn poisoning" is not well understood, but a great 

 deal has been observed and written on the subject, and there is clear 

 evidence that acorns may reasonably be held to be poisonous. It must 

 be pointed out, however, that the poisoning does not usually follow on 

 the consumption of acorns in small quantities, but is commonly due to 

 full meals of acorns taken in periods when there is a dearth of herbage. 

 By proper preparation and storage acorns have been converted into 

 a most useful food for horses, cattle and sheep {Jour. Bd. Agric, Sept. 

 1914 and Feb. 1916, and Leaflet No. 291 of the Bd. Agric, The Food 

 Value of Acorns, Horse-Chestnuts and Beech Mast). In Germany 

 it has been found that acorns fed to fowls caused diminished egg- 

 laying, which finally ceased, while the yolks of eggs laid were dis- 

 coloured a dirty brown {Jour. Bd. Agric, Dec. 1915, p. 902). 



Toxic Principle. The facts as to acorn poisoning and oak-leaf 

 poisoning are not clearly known, and the actual toxic substance is 

 similarly not certainly known. It is probable, however, that it consists 

 of Tannin, or substances which give rise to Tannin. 



