516 Report on the Health of Animals of the Farm. 
The herd of beasts had occupied the yards during the entire winter ; their 
food consisting of oat and pea-straw, mangolds, and equal proportions of linseed 
and cotton-cake. Recently the quantity of cake had been materially increased, 
and the suppl}' of roots doubled. I attribute the origin of the disease in part 
to this change in the amount of food supplied to the animals. The water supply 
to the farm premises was, however, bad, as it was derived from a nearly stag- 
nant land drain, which also received the drainage from the yards and stables. 
It may be remarked that drainage from land of the kind farmed by Mr. Hand- 
bury, viz. black peat, highly charged with decaying vegetable matter, is at no 
time to be recommended, and when allowed to stagnate is highly objectionable 
for drinking purposes. In this instance I consider the water had played* 
very material part in the production of the disease. The fact that animals 
removed only a short distance from those affected, and receiving the same 
kind of food, but deriving their drinking water from a running stream, remained 
healthy, seems to strengthen this opinion. 
The estension of the malady to the sheep and horses most likely dependflS 
on their supply of food being derived from meadows on which dogs had been 
allowed to eat the viscera of the dead animals. The sheep were pastured 
here ; and besides this the horses were also nightly turned into one of the 
divisions of the north yard, which was only separated from the stricken beasts 
by posts and rails. 
The measures suggested for arresting the spread of the disease had reference 
to these several supposed causes. The use of water from the land drain was 
forbidden. The cake and roots were reduced in quantity, and the yards and 
stables were ordered to be thoroughly cleansed and disinfected, 
J. WoETLET Axe. 
IV. — Three cases of Poisoning hy Bape-Cahe containing Wild Mustard, 
In December last, three samples of rape-cake, each bearing the same mark, 
but sent by persons residing in different counties, were forwarded to me for 
analysis, as they were believed to have proved injurious to stock. In one 
case the cake was given to thirty-seven animals (calves,, 2-year-olds, &c.) in 
quantities varying from 3 lbs. to 6 lbs. Every animal that partook of the 
cake was more or less aflfected with symptoms of poisoning, which proved fatal 
to eight animals. 
In the second case, two beasts were each supplied with a feed of between 
2 lbs. and 3 lbs. of the cake. In about an hour afterwards both animals 
showed symptoms of abdominal pain, which continued for 24 hours, when 
they died. These were the only animals on the farm fed with this raiie-cake. 
Other stock on the same farm fed entirely on linseed-cake have remained 
perfectly healthy. 
In the third case about lb. of the rape-cake was given to each of twenty- 
one beasts. All the animals were taken ill shortly after eating ^he cake, and 
three died the same night. The symptoms were indicative of narcotico-acrid 
poisoning. 
The post mortem examination revealed in every instance, intense inflam- 
mation of the stomachs and intestines. 
By chemical analysis and microscopical investigation, I discovered consider- 
able quantities of wild mustard seed in each of the three rape-cakes, as well 
as in the stomachs sent to me for examination. 
The conclusions arrived at from this and analogous cases of poisoning hy 
rape-cake are : — 
1st. That lengthened practical experience has established the fact that pmfr 
rape-cajje is a perfectly wholesome food for cattle. 
