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1 Jay., 1900.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 44 
Mr. E. Lord, stock inspector of the district, informed me that he had 
instructed the constable at Rolleston to make post-mortem examinations of the 
cattle, with the result that quantities of undigested Zamia were found forming a 
mat within the “bible,” thereby blocking all subsequently eaten food. 
Symptoms.—The animal is apparently quite well in the morning, but 
about midday the ears begins to droop, and a tarry-like substance is passed. 
The beast then begins to stagger about, and rushes madly at any object in front 
of it. 
Mr. J. Archibald, a very old resident of Rolleston, who is considered to 
be well informed on all stock matters, told me that he had seen a number of 
these beasts opened, and in most cases had observed the Zamia matted as above 
stated; also that he had seen bullocks feeding upon the plants about 
Springsure. He had also found the Peach-leaved Poison-bush in the stomachs. 
As the leaflets of the Zamia have extremely sharp points, no doubt these would 
have a tendency to inflame the stomach, independent of the poisonous principle 
it is said to contain. 
From Rolleston to Racecourse Creek, a distance of 10 miles, the country 
is composed of scrubby ridges, with bauhinia, sandalwood, bloodwood, ironbark, 
&c., but the route, from previously mentioned cause, is destitute of small herbage, 
with the exception of the Pimelea and a little Cassia sophera. About five miles 
_ past Rolleston, just after entering Planet Downs, Turkey-bush (Myoporum 
deserti) is met with, and continues more or less to Racecourse Creek, where 
it grows very thickly. Here also a large quantity of the Native Fuchsia 
(Lremophila maculata) was growing, and showed signs of having been freely 
browsed upon. It was in both flower and fruit. The Turkey-bush, which was in 
full fruit, had also been eaten, but not to the same extent as the fuchsia. 
About three months ago, a drover, who had allowed his sheep to feed for 
half-a-day here, began losing them soon after leaving, and deaths continued to 
occur until Taroom was reached. 
The drover reported that, before death, the head became so swollen that he 
thought at first they were suffering from catarrh. . 
At the time of our visit, this creek was dried up, and we noticed about 8 
dead sheep, which had died about three weeks previously ; and we were informed 
that the drover of these had also allowed them to feed here for half-a-day. 
Mr. Lord informed me that at this locality, soon after rain, the Darling Pea 
or Indigo (Swainsona galegifolia) comes up very thickly; and on both above- 
mentioned occasions rain had just fallen. 
I therefore am of opinion that the Native Fuchsia (Plate CLXII1.), in 
conjunction with the Turkey-bush, and probably the Darling Pea, is in a great 
measure responsible for the losses. 
The Native Fuchsia has for many years been looked upon as poisonous, 
Specially when in young fruit. 
Mr. Jacob Low, in Bailey and Gordon’s work, states that four of the 
fruit are sufficient to kill a sheep, and that the effects are worse after rain. The 
so-called Turkey-bush (Ayoporum deserti) (Plate CLUXIYV.) is also reported in 
the same work as dangerous to travelling sheep, but, although plentiful in many 
parts along the route, Racecourse Creek was the only place where we found 
it eaten to any extent. 
The dire effect of the Darling Pea or Indigo on stock has long been 
known. 
From Racecourse Creek to Planet Creek, four miles of open sandy forest 
country, with Moreton Bay ash, bloodwood, cypress pine, bauhinia, poplar-box, 
sandalwood, beefwood, &e., was passed through, ech was barren of herbage, 
with the exception of Bathurst burr, which, however, was seen all along the 
road. This is succeeded by sandy flats for three miles, again bare of herbage, 
and then four miles of stony ridges until the Planet Downs head station is 
reached. Somewhat similar sandy and ridgy country continues to foot of 
Expedition Range, which is about 12 miles distant. 
