294 Annual Report for 1908 of Royal Veterinary College. 
It is to be observed, firstly, that poisoning is more frequent 
amongst cattle than amongst horses, a circumstance no doubt 
attributable to the less discriminating feeding of the former 
animals. 
In the next place, it is remarkable that no cases of lead 
poisoning should have been encountered among horses. 
It is possible that lead poisoning is more frequent with 
cattle than is commonly supposed, and in this connection it 
is to be remarked that the nervous symptoms of acute lead 
poisoning often lead to an incorrect diagnosis of vegetable 
poison. 
On the farm great care should be exercised to prevent the 
possibility of lead preparations being left where cattle can 
reach them. The possible vehicles of poisoning are lead paints 
— particularly white lead and red lead — scraps of metallic 
lead, and, where soft water is used, its stoi’age in leaden cisterns. 
The capacity of cattle for lead “ as a food ” is enormous, 
the proportion found in the viscera generally being very high, 
the lowest ever found here being J grain per ounce, and the 
highest as much as 2 ^ per cent, of the visceral contents. 
In all cases of acute poisoning it should be remembered 
further that the stomach and intestinal contents are most 
suitable for chemical examination. 
Unfortunately it is not always possible to trace the source 
of poisoning with lead, but whenever this has been done it 
has always been found that it was lead paint. 
As regards arsenic, several interesting cases have been dealt 
with. In one arsenic was found in the second and fourth 
stomachs of a heifer in the proportion of 9 V grain per ounce, 
and poisoning was ultimately proved to have been caused by 
the mixture of a vermin powder with meal. 
An extensive arsenical poisoning case in cattle in the West of 
England may be also mentioned. Several animals were examined 
and small proportions of arsenic invariably found disseminated 
through the whole visceral contents. The actual quantities were 
small, varying from - 6 V to T i<j grain per ounce, according to the 
impaction of the material. Since no noteworthy lesions were 
observed, doubt seemed still possible as to the cause of death, 
especially as diligent search of the pastures and water supplies 
failed to reveal arsenic. Very shortly afterwards another 
death occurred, and the' whole alimentary tract was examined, 
once again showing arsenic in about the same proportions 
as previously found. Ultimately it was discovered that the 
animals had had access to a water cart containing arsenical 
weed killer. 
In reference to poisoning of farm animals there are many 
points which would repay exact investigation. To name a 
