617 
ALSIKE CLOVER.—ITS REPUTED ILL-EFFECTS 
ON ANIMALS. 
By J. Wheeler, M.R.C.V.S., Rookley, Isle of Wight. 
In reply to Mr. Earl’s inquiries respecting Alsike clover 
being poisonous or injurious to horses, I can inform him that 
the farmers in this island are so well convinced of the ill-effects 
of the plant that they have ceased to grow it. A few years 
ago, when Alsike clover was grown here to a great extent, I 
saw six or seven teams of horses which were seriously injured 
by eating it in a green state ; and I also have since heard 
from a large stock-farmer that lambs frequently suffered in a 
similar manner if fed upon it. 
When mixed with other clover or grasses, Alsike clover 
does not seem to cause any injurious effect; but I remember 
to have seen two teams of horses affected by eating Alsike 
clover-hay. Usually horses continue to feed on the plant 
for a week or ten days before showing any indications of its 
ill-effects. 
The symptoms which Mr. Earl relates exactly correspond 
with those I have witnessed. A change of food and the exhi¬ 
bition of a mild aperient, followed up occasionally with tonics, 
will soon bring about recovery. 
I am somewhat surprised that we have not heard more of 
the injurious effects produced on animals by eating this 
clover, as I understand it is largely cultivated in the northern 
parts of England as well as elsewhere. A few years since, my 
father drew the attention of the profession to it through the 
Veterinarian , which led at the time to a free discussion of 
the subject. 
[If our readers will refer to the thirty-seventh volume of 
the Veterinarian they will find the discussion alluded to, and 
also a history of the introduction of this plant from Sweden, 
to which country this hybrid clover belongs.— Eds.] 
Pathological Contributions. 
THE CONTAGIOUS DISEASES (ANIMALS) ACT, 
1869. 
“ Return of the Number of Foreign Animals brought 
by Sea to Ports in Great Britain, which on inspection on 
landing, within the Month of July, 1872, have been 
found to be affected with any Contagious or Infectious 
