Excerpt from Plants Reputed to Be Poisonous to Stock in Australia

In 1894 I made an official recommendation that experiments should be systematically undertaken by the Stock Department, under the direction of the Principal Veterinary Surgeon, to endeavour to settle the toxicity, or otherwise, of certain suspected plants. I am sorry that my recommendation was not given e act to, and attach Copy of a report made at the time by Mr. Edward Stanley, Principal Veterinary Surgeon, to the Secretary of the Board of Health. Any views of Mr. Stanley on the question of stock poisons are treated b me with the greatest respect, but it seems to me that Mr. Stanley ost inclines to the view that plants are not poisonous to stock. What I want to be able to do, if possible, when stock-owners write to me, asthey do by hundreds every year, is to say whether a certain plant is poisonousnot. Many reputed poisonous plants I know (some as the result of r. Stanley' 8 researches) to be quite harmless, others I know to contain dsonous principles, but quite a number of plants are on the suspected t, and some of them are kept in it for botanical reasons, because we 1ow that they are closely related to oisonous plants or plants mated with apparently good reason. I feel that, as regards some as plants, I ought now, at the beginning of the twentieth century, be able to speak with a less uncertain sound. I have the honour to report that my opinion on the alleged poison g of stock by plants is formed on many years' experience with sick rd healthy animals. I have noticed that their natural instincts save em from eating toxic or poisonous plants, unless under extraordinary cumstances, as when delirious from hunger or thirst. They will eat ixions plants noxious means productive of injury) very eedily, d often suffer in consequence. I have seen stock die in large unbers when fed solely on such common plants as prairie-grass, eerne, clover, turnips, &c. I have seen them die on trefoil, thistle, d marsh-mallow, and in a similar manner they may die on the milk ed (euphorbia Drummond'ifi), the African marigold, the wild parsnip gleg/maritime), and the cat's ear( Hypochmm's rad'icata), and on many her plants that go to make up the herbage of our pastures; when eh plants happen to be luxuriant and abundant they may' be palatable, rt when eaten injudiciously are not very wholesome. In my Opinion, indigestion explains the mystery of death, caused by called noxious plants. Many plants with medicinal properties are consumed with impunity 'ruminating animals, and they appear to be necessary in assisting edigestion and assimilation of food g animals not live without access to mix 8 reputed?

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