Cirrhosis in Cattle, Sheep and Horses fed on Senecio. 517 



until it was so abundant that they could not bite grass without 

 taking ragwort. (Paterson). The mortality ceased in two 

 months after the cattle were removed from pastures infested with 

 ragwort . ( Gilr uth ) . 



In the North Island it was first noticed in 190 1, in the southern 

 portion of Auckland District, on a 4000 acre pasture, about 1500 

 to 2000 feet above the sea, in a large herd of breeding cows turned 

 out there. Senecio Jacobcea was very abundant over the whole 

 pasture and in places almost monopolized the soil. The Senecio 

 was not a new arrival, and its effects were only shown when sus- 

 ceptible animals (cattle) were first placed on the range. Not 

 only the sick cattle showed the lesions of hepatic cirrhosis, but 

 cattle killed in apparent health showed the same morbid condi- 

 tion, though not advanced to the extent of producing antemortem 

 symptoms . ( Gilr uth ) . 



Here and elsewhere in the North Island, Senecio appeared to 

 have been introduced with the grass seeds when the land was 

 seeded for pasture, and thus gradually extended. 



Experiments with Senecio Jacobcea. The following ex- 

 periments were carried out under the direction of J. A Gilruth, 

 Principal Veterinary Officer, New Zealand : 



1st. March 29th to April 17th, two calves were fed Senecio 

 which they ate greedily in the green state. They died April 

 27th and 29th respectively with highly cirrhotic livers. 



2d. Two cows and one horse fed carefully-dried Senecio for 

 three months. All kept in good health. One cow sacrificed 

 showed a healthy liver. 



3d. A steer, cow, yellow bullock and horse were placed on pas- 

 ture abounding in Senecio. The steer died in three months with 

 cirrhotic liver. The cow died in 4 months with cirrhotic liver. 

 The horse died in 5 months with hepatic cirrhosis. The yellow 

 bullock remained healthy and when killed showed the liver 

 sound. The stomach contents gave no evidence that he had 

 eaten Senecio. 



4th. A gelding was fed, twice daily, 1 lb. of Senecio flowering 

 tops and branches carefully dried and cut in chaff. On the 28th 

 day he was dull and losing flesh, so the dose of Senecio was re- 

 duced to yz lb. twice daily. In three weeks more he was lan- 

 guid, dull, yawning and more emaciated. Senecio reduced to % 



