i9io.] 



POTSONING OF CATTLE. 



307 



solved in 809 parts of the solution, while 1 part of chalk was 

 dissolved in 984 parts. Comparing the actual lime in quick- 

 lime with that in chalk, it appears that in pure cold water 

 caustic lime is about 27 times more soluble than chalk, but 

 that in the o'i per cent, solution of citric acid lime in caustic 

 lime is only about twice as soluble as the lime in the form of 

 chalk. 



It seems clear, therefore, that if chalk be reduced by grind- 

 ing to as fine a condition as caustic lime, it will be sufficient 

 to apply 1 ton per acre of ground chalk instead of 10 cwt. 

 per acre of ground lime. The ground chalk would usually 

 be both less costly than ground lime, and more convenient to 

 apply. At the same time it would have a less rapid action 

 in the destruction of vegetable matter in the soil. Mr, 

 Hughes remarks that the value of chalk for all light soils has 

 been too much neglected. The red soils of Worcester and 

 Hereford are, he says, types of soils that would be improved 

 by dressings of finely-ground chalk, which is also suitable for 

 gravel, granite, and sandy soils deficient in vegetable matter 

 as well as in lime. The chalk should be dried and ground 

 finely, distributed evenly, and lightly harrowed in. 



The attention of the Board has recently been called to a 



case of poisoning of cattle which resulted in the death of three 



heifers. Soy bean cake was being used 

 Poisoning of Cattle as feed; stuff and i{ ^ a( first 



by 



Sheep-dip Paste. suggested by the owner of the animals 

 that this might have contained some 

 deleterious substance. Careful examination of samples of the 

 consignment of soy bean cake failed to reveal anything likely 

 to have been injurious, but a portion of the food which was 

 actually being fed to the animals which died was fortunately 

 preserved, and a sample of this was found to contain, in 

 addition to pieces of cake, a yellow ball of material weighing 

 about 1 oz., which corresponded in composition with arsenic 

 sheep-dip paste. The whole sample, weighing about 17 oz., 

 was found to contain 138 grains of white arsenic, whereas 

 10 grains are recognised as a fatal dose for a cow. 



Further investigation showed that an empty keg of sheep- 

 dip paste had been left apparently for several years near to 

 the cake-breaking machine, and there seemed little doubt 



