PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS SECTION R. 
31 
PLANTS POISONOUS TO STOCK. 
The matter of stock-poisons is one of very serious moment to the 
pastoralists and graziers of Australia. The mortality of stock is 
often increased by reason of the impossibility of isolating either them 
or suspected plants — a thing comparatively easy in a country well 
hedged or well fenced. It would appear that, on the subject of stock 
maladies, two schools are being differentiated in Australia: those who 
accuse plants of being the cause of nearly every ill from which stock 
suffer, and those who almost ignore plants in the matter, fixing the 
blame on microscopic organisms (bacteria, etc,). 
Mr. ii’dward Stanley, Government Veterinarian of New South 
Wales, is the chief exponent of what 1 may, for brevity, term the 
anti-poison plant theory. He has experimented on sheep with 
Euphorbia Driumnondii* a plant that thousands of people still 
firmly hold to be poisonous. Mr. Stanley concludes that stock which 
perish through eating this plant die either from indigestion or from 
diseases such as anthrax. 1 believe that analysis has thrown no light 
on the effects of this plant. Other Euphorbiaceous plants reported 
to he poisonous are Beytria viscom, Miq., Phyllanthm lacunar im., 
E. v. M., and Omalanihus (Citrumbium) populifolius , Grab., none of 
which have been chemically investigated so far as I am aware. 
It is not often that one now hears of a new poison-plant, a few 
being usually accused of destroying sheep, cattle, and horses with 
painful iteration. Among such are the Euphorbia already alluded 
to, Swain sona Grey ana, yaleyi folia, &c. (Darling Pea), Nicntiana 
snaveolens , Lehm. (Native Tobacco), Bulbine hulbosa , Haw. (Wild 
Onion). Such plants are, therefore, popularly known as stock-poisons. 
That the death of many animals is directly traceable to such 
plants is open to no doubt. They are, therefore, u stock-killers,” and 
it is rather a reflection upon us that we do not yet know whether 
some of them are true “ stock-poisons” or not. Nevertheless, the 
stock authorities of the various colonies will do well to continue to 
disseminate information in regard to them by means of pictorial illus- 
tration or otherwise. The average stockowner simply requires to be 
put on his guard in respect to such plants, for, if it be established that 
they destroy his stock, he looks upon it as a mere quibble by what 
agency they effect their fell purpose by alkaloids, by proteids, or by 
acute indigestion. The matter of poisonous fodder-plants is still sub 
judice , if I may use the expression. Chemists both in Australia and 
Western North America (where the same problems as regards such 
poisons have to be dealt with) are working at this very difficult 
subject. Investigations of this character can only be satisfactorily 
undertaken by the co-operation of the chemist with the animal 
physiologist. Some of the poisons may be of a proteid character ; and 
if so, the difficulties of any investigation would be considerably 
increased. It would be an advantage to the chemist to be acquainted 
with methods of bacteriological study. 
The chief interest in regard to poisonous fodder-plants in 
Australia centres around the Leguminosaj. The very mention of the 
Darling Pea awakens painful associations amongst pastoralists. 
Crotalaria Mitchelli , Benth., is accused of similarly dangerous 
Agric. Gazette N S.W., i., 18, 1890. 
