1 Jury, 1902.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 49 
rule, commence until after the animals had been watered, unless fed on green fodder 
or succulent roots, and even, then they sometimes require water. Ruminant animals, 
being very timid, were easily frightened, and very slight causes arrested rumination, 
as did slight maladies and excessive food and grasses in the stomach, venomous or 
narcotic plants, forced marches, fatigue, rut, and suffering of all kinds. Even the 
separation of a mother from her young had been known to temporarily arrest rumina- 
tion. The longer rumination was postponed the more difficult “was its recom- 
mencement, since food becomes dry and compactly packed in the rumen, and 
the omasum and their membranes become irritated. Mr. Quinnell also explained 
the paralysing influences of a too far distended paunch, and the tardy action 
of many medicines administered was due to the thick epithalical covering and 
the amount of food always Jodged in the three stomachs. When the stomach was 
distended a certain nerve was unduly pressed upon, and so-got into a torpid state, 
and the lethargic symptoms of comatose staggers were supposed to be the result, by 
reflex nervous action. Another theory was also given for this. Mr. Quinnell then 
went into the details of engorgement, which was not easy to treat medicinally. He, 
therefore, strongly urged precautionary measures, care in feeding, &c. Sorghum, 
botanically,may be classed with the best of fodder plants. Chemically, it was in harmony 
with what was known of the chemistry of all fodder plants. Careful chemical analysis 
to isolate and identify poisonous matter had utterly failed. A poison that would kill 
a full-grown animal in ten to fifteen minutes must necessarily be present in relatively 
large proportions. Analysis had shown a trace of potassium nitrate, but therapeutics 
controvert its toxic influence. Cultures made with the object of developing toxic 
bacteria gave negative results. ‘The entomologist had declared specimens taken from 
patches where sorghum had produced fatal results to be free from insect or parasitical 
growths. Physologically, it had been demonstrated that in the use of sorghum for 
-pasturage the element of danger was not any greater than that to be found in 
indigestible fodder of any sort, and especially stale, or old, or tough green meal. 
Pathologically, it had proved its ill effects to a derangement mechanically produced, 
and hence did not support the chemical theory of poisonous intoxication. Stockmen 
generally were agreed that hungry cattle should not be turned on the sorghum pasture 
even for a short time; therefore, the more enlightened dairy,farmer should know that 
sorghum was not any more a stock-killer than the usual fodder plants were, if he will 
only adopt the precautionary measures that practical experience and science dictate. 
DISCUSSION. 
Messrs. A. Grant and W. Brerury (Rosewood) described the injurious 
effects of grazing cattle on sorghum pasture, as did Mr. I’. Drew (Laidley) and 
Mr. J. Gillam (Allora). 
A delegate suggested that the deaths that often occurred after eating 
sorghum perhaps arose through the presence of a poisonous weed growing 
amongst the sorghum. 
Mr. A. H. McSuanz (loowoomba): I do not care much about sorghum 
myself. A year or two ago a neighbour of mine had a lot of deaths from 
sorghum, and communicated with the Department in the matter. The reply 
was that the Department could only account for the deaths by the cattle eating 
some poisonous weed that was with the sorghum. But why did not the weed 
occur amongst other fodders and grasses, and why was it confined to sorghum ? 
If the Department could throw any light on the subject it would do a great 
amount of good. 
Messrs. D. Wensrer, E. 8. Wanner, and W. Dracon also contributed to 
the discussion ; the latter stating that he had fed rorghum to his cattle and 
no ill effects followed. He was doubtful if any case of sorghum poisoning 
had occurred in the Allora district. 
Mr. QuINNELL, in reply, pointed out that it was possible, through irritation, 
to set the paralysed stomach of a cow going. Poison must be chemically 
‘introduced into the animals system. ‘The animal would live a long time before 
poison would act. There were no symptoms of this sort, but there was evidence 
to show that mechanical action was the cause of the death. It was necessary 
to have mixed foods. As for chaffing, if a poison exists in the plant, chaffing 
will not eliminate it. Acute indigestion was the cause of the deaths complained. 
of. The only treatment was precautionary measures, as drugs would not act 
quickly enough before death ensued. 
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