The Grit-advocate., 1900-06-15
why Does Some Sorghum Ktll-

reason for the occasional fatal effects
of sorghum when fed green. A recent
report says:
In view of the common practice OF
cutting the first crop of sorghum for
hay and pasturing the second crop. it
is not difficult to understand the rea-
son for the prevailing impression re-
garding the injurious effect OF the sec
ond growth. 1t is very likely that i!
the unmatured first growth were fec
az freely as is the second, the numbe"
Of cattle affected would be more nearly
the same in each case.
Beyond doubt the symptoms devel-
oped in all the cases cited indicate the
action Of some sort Of poison. The
produced, and the post-mortem symp-
toms. all seem to point to one cause
poison. Yet, in the analysis made, no
poison was found. and 30 far as could
be ascertained no chemist has ever
found an appreciable quantity OF
poison in any sorghums. 1t Is believed
that the suddenness Of attack in such
cases does not necessarily preclude
other explanations than that OF
poisoning. An animal may be at times
in such a condition physically that
wholesome substances - substances
that are not OF themselves poisonous
will have, when eaten, toxic action
or even cause death. Prof Connell
says regarding second growth cane.
I'm every case coming under my OBJ
servation, death has occurred when
the cows stomach was unaccustoned
to such food. A small amOant OF this
crop swallowed quickly into the
pauneh may produce vast quantity OF
expansive gas, causing death An
other authority, Prof. v. X. Chestnut.
states that the qualifications involved
In a definition OF poisonous plant
are numerous. It may suffice to say
that death In some cases Is attribute
BILE not to any poison which the plant
contains but to immoderate or incau-
tious eating or to mechanical injury"
Before any decisive conclusion can
be drawn in regard to this trouble
some typical case must be studied in
all its phases. Besides studying the
plant microscopically and chemically,
it will be necessary TO consider the
animals more carefully. Their condi-
ton must be noted, the various foods
that have been supplied must be sub
jected to the closest scrutiny and the
ante-mortem as well as the post
mortem symptoms must be observed
and recorded.
1t must be admitted that positive
proof is still lacking regarding the
cause of the disease occasionally in
duced by sorghum plants. Negative re-
suits of an analysis are usually not
satisfactory, but In this case they are
at least quite conclusive. In view OF
the analyses and Of the collateral evil
dence given, 1t seems certain that the
toxic effect of this plant which mani
tests itself at times is not due to
chemical poison inherent in the plant
and is not peculiar to the second
growth alone. This last statement is
of special importance. 1t is in direct
contradiction to the prevailing popu-
lar opinion. but all the facts at hand
sustain the conclusion. The proof OF
this once accepted and the prejudice
against the second growth thereby re-
moved, will result. it is believed, in
greatly increased use Of this valuable
forage crop. The greater the number
of cases studied the more evident it
becomes that this is matter governed
entirely by local conditions and that