Annual Report for 1908 of the Consulting Chemist. 295 
few — cotton cake is often held responsible for death, but no 
poisonous principle has been found in it and no systematic 
feeding tests appear to have been made. Death is vaguely 
attributed to castor oil, or referred to mechanical irritation by 
the undecorticated cake. Zinc is often found in cattle and 
horses, sometimes in relatively large quantities. Without 
experiment it is exceedingly difficult to form an opinion as to 
whether zinc is to be held poisonous or not. The same remarks 
apply to copper and to antimony. Experimental investigation 
is also required as to the poisonous effect of cyanide-producing 
foods, such as the Java bean and linseed, which have attracted 
much notice recently. 
Another point of great value from the toxicologist’s stand- 
point is an experimental determination of the proportion of 
poison found to poison administered. 
J. McFadyean. 
Royal Veterinary College, 
London, N.W. 
ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1908 OF THE 
CONSULTING CHEMIST. 
ALTHOUGH the actual number of samples analysed during 
the year shows a diminution on those of the preceding year — 
this being 408 as against 462 in 1907 — there has been far from 
inactivity shown by the Royal Agricultural Society of England 
in the prosecution of its endeavours to safeguard its members, 
and to give them advice in their farming, as well as to bring 
to light such cases of adulteration and fraud as may have 
come to their notice. 
Without doubt the multiplicity of facilities, through State 
Aid to Agricultural Colleges and other bodies, for supplying 
the farmer with the ready means of having his fertilisers and 
feeding stuffs analysed at low rates, has had a marked effect 
upon the extent to which the Society’s Chemical Department 
is now resorted to. So, too, has the introduction of the 
Fertilisers and Feeding Stuffs Act, one which has brought 
about a sense of security — frequently, it is true, not fully 
warranted — on the part of the farmer. 
The records, however, show that though these adverse 
agencies have exercised an influence as regards the number 
of samples submitted for analysis in the ordinary course, yet, 
so far as concerns special investigations and matters outside 
the usual “ run ” of things, the laboratory of the Society is 
