ACORN-POISONING. 
129 
some of the animals examined a large coagulum of effused 
blood was found in the lumbar region behind the kidneys. 
Blood was also found in some cases in the omasum, and 
spoiled blood, in considerable quantity, was found mixed 
with the contents of the intestines. 
Speaking generally, the morbid appearances were indicative 
of blood-poisoning, and varied to some extent, according to 
the duration of the disease which destroyed the animals’ 
life, but maintaining all over the country sufficient uniformity 
to prove that the same cause was in operation to produce the 
effects which were observed. 
Outbreaks of the same disease occurred simultaneously in 
various parts of the kingdom, and cases were investigated in 
Kent, Middlesex, Herts, Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Hereford- 
shire, Surrey, Suffolk, and Norfolk. 
In every case the outbreak followed upon the fall of acorns. 
Very few adult cattle were attacked, but of young stock 
scarcely any of those which partook of acorns entirely 
escaped. 
The disease only appeared in districts where acorns 
abounded, and in all parts of the kingdom it was charac- 
terised by symptoms and lesions which were nearly identical 
in character. 
Remedial measures failed everywhere. Theoretically, the 
duty of the veterinary surgeon was simple ; he was called 
upon to use means to eliminate the poison from the system, 
and to support the failing powers of life meanwhile. 
Practically, the attempt to carry out the theory did not 
succeed. Salines, alkalies, and vegetable tonics appeared, in 
some cases, to be beneficial; but no success attended the 
same treatment in other instances, and the result of the whole 
of the curative means which were employed in the treatment 
of the disease was complete failure. 
When the supply of acorns ceased the disease gradually 
declined, and only reappeared in the autumn of last year, 
under conditions which were exactly like those of 1868 — 
deficiency of herbage after a long drought, and an abundant 
crop of acorns. In the latter part of September the acorns 
began to cover the pastures rather thickly, and observing 
that cattle were feeding on them voraciously we anticipated 
a repetition of the experience of 1868. 
Some stock-owners, who had suffered in the previous out- 
break, took the precaution to have the acorns picked up 
before they allowed young cattle to feed over the pastures on 
which the acorns fell, and the result of this wise precaution 
was most satisfactory. Cattle which had been feeding in 
