ACORN-POISONING. 
131 
“ Case 2. — Bushey. Ten steers and three milch cows were 
on the pastures. Disease commenced soon after the animals 
began to eat the acorns. Five were attacked and two died. 
None of the milch cows were affected. The acorns were 
picked off the pasture. 
“Case 3. — Watford. Twenty-five oxen and twelve milch 
cows were feeding on the pastures for three or four weeks 
before the outbreak of disease on October 27th. The acorns 
were regularly picked up, and only seven young cattle were 
attacked ; of these four died. 
“ Case 4. — Stanmore. Three young stock and ten Alder- 
ney cows were pastured in the summer ; the disease com- 
menced on October 21st, and, contrary to general experience, 
attacked two cows ; the young stock escaped. The acorns 
were picked up from this pasture.” 
Deports were received day by day of the prevalence of the 
disease in all parts of the country where acorns were plentiful. 
As in 1868, the malady proved very fatal; from seventy to ninety 
per cent, of the animals attacked died, and the proportion of 
those attacked in a herd of young animals was usually three 
fourths of the entire number. All the animals which fed on 
the acorns were affected to some extent, but those only which 
were actually ill were reported to be suffering from the acorn 
disease. 
Cows and oxen were attacked in several instances, and 
some fatal cases occurred in these animals. Some herds were 
attacked with a mild form of the disease, and these instances, 
on being investigated, were found to have occurred on farms 
where the stock had previously suffered, and where, con- 
sequently, great precautions were taken. Young cattle 
were removed as much as possible from the places where the 
quantity of acorns was excessive, and pickers were kept 
constantly at work on the pastures. Sometimes the cattle 
were kept in at night, and not turned out until a quantity of 
acorns had been collected. The admixture of bran and chaff 
with acorns was found to prevent the development of inju- 
rious effects, and in the few localities where there was a fair 
quantity of grass the young animals were found to thrive 
well notwithstanding the presence of a great many acorns on 
the ground. 
Mr. Chattell, veterinary surgeon, of Bromley, in his letter 
to us, writes : 
“ The principal harm appears to result from turning the 
young stock out empyty and hungry. I know of no case of 
disease occurring where the animals have been turned out in 
