134 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Jury, 1901, {i 
gained admittance to a patch of sorghum through the bull knocking down the fence 
The sorghum, which had madea very slow growth owing to the dry weather, was on} 
about a foot in height, and while the cattle were in the patch, a matter of some 
twenty minutes, they only ate about enough to make a decent day’s feed for one coy 
Yet, when the animals were hunted out, it was noticed that some had a groggy look 
about them, and, before many minutes had elapsed, a couple had fallen to the ground. 
and appeared to be suffering great pain. A number of other cows seemed to be 
affected, but not all were seized alike. Some were dazed as if drunk, and unable to 
move or keep their heads up, while others appeared to be mad, quiet animals chargi 
their attendants, and goring the cows which had fallen to the ground, then themselves - 
tumbling over a few minutes afterwards. 
Naturally, every means was tried to save the cows, but no method was hit 
upon which would seem to be successful in combating this rapid poison, which gé 
times forms in the various sorghum growths. ‘Tapping was resorted to where the 
animals showed any signs of being “blown,” but this did not seem to give much 
relief. The first animal to succumb was a cow, which did not show any signs of 
being “blown,” nor was she swollen, yet she died within three-quarters of an hour o£ 
being taken out of the sorghum, and within another half-hour the body was greatly 
swollen. 
Some animals which showed slight signs of being “blown” or ‘“hoven,” were 
tapped, and the gas let out, but there was very little to let out. They were also 
dosed with spirits, with castor-oil, with spirits of turpentine and egg, but of none 
could it be said that a certain remedy had been found. A cow dosed with rum and 
castor-oil got very bad, but recovered, and is now walking about. Altogether six 
cows died, all valuable milkers, and one is still unable to get up, whilst only three 
that were badly attacked managed to recover. 
The lesson to be learnt from this is one that dairymen should take to heart. 
lt would appear that at certain times, or under certain conditions, sorghum develo 
a deadly poison, which has so far defied analytical chemistry, and great care should 
be exercised in feeding it in a green state. 
DISCUSSION. 4 
Mr. P. Bipprxs (Tiaro) : I have had a little experience on this subject, as _ 
I grow a number of the sorghums. It has the same effect on horses as on 
cows, but I have never known it to affect cattle after the seed has changed 
colour, It is always dangerous, however, when it is in its young stage. I had 
a lot of bucket calves knocking about, and one morning we found three or four 
dead. Naturally, some people said blackleg, but about two days afterwards I 
saw some of the remainder had got into the young sorghum. The next 
evening two were dead, and we immediately knew what had killed the others. 
It must be some gas, or something that creates a poison ix the blood. That is 
my opinion, for, as Mr. Coulson said, some of the cattle are not in the slightest 
way different when they fall dead to what they were when they were walking 
about. It has the same effect on horses, although they do not die as easily as __ 
cattle. 
Mr. J. H. Maynarp (Gympie): In the Gympie district, as Mr. Cox has 
read, we have been suffering from the poisonous effect of young sorghum. In © 
all cases it has been young, and from what I can read they have been suffering — 
in the same way in America. But in America the evidence seems to show that — 
the second growth is more fatal than the first. After the first losses in the 
Gympie district, the Central Farmers’ Association asked for an expert to be © 
sent up. ‘There was no officer available at the time, but three weeks afterwards — 
Mr. Tucker arrived. I went round with Mr. Tucker and interviewed the 
gentleman who had lost cattle. It was suggested thatit was a narcotic poison, — 
and the remedies recommended were spirits and soda. Of course soda is good 
for hoyen, and spirit is a reviver. Rum appears to be very good. A 
gentleman I know turned some cattle on to a patch of Johnston grass — 
about January. A shower of rain had put a short, quick growth into 
the Johnston grass, and, within twenty minutes, a couple of the animals — 
were down. His boy immediately turned the whole lot out of the patch, — 
but everyone that went down, died. I want to take this opportunity to warn © 
every gentleman here against ever putting Johnston grass into his land. — 
Johnston grass runs its roots 3 feet into the soil. You cannot plough out the 
roots. It also spreads from seed like ordinary sorghum. Seedsmen who 
