Strange Death of Cattle

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLV, Issue 266, 26 December 1903, Page 4

Strange Death of Cattle

dangers op poppies. Mr W«teri**Jse. ol Mapgawtaare laays the Wtwlaa'a ft»y Hera-Ud) lost eight head of youpg cattle; last Sunday and Monday under peculiar circumstances, the cattle »l>pnrently goii>S mad, breaking through wire fences, rushing about! the prictdocks and into waterholes,, end tdm dropping dead. Mr A. T.: DMmrs was consulted, and on making iikyjiries, be ascertained that the gardener bad pulled up a lot' of poppies aad thrown them into the paddock. These, when dry, had been eaten by the cattle, resulting in narcotic poisoning and dearth. A' similar case resulted soma years ago tn France, being reported in the veterinary paper Veterinaare, where eight cows had dusi from eating the stalks of the wiM poppy. The symptoms. as recorded in that paper, axe a midden swelliqg, with a peculiar stupor in the early stage of the attack, cessation of rumination, an eagerness after water, with a quick-' cning of the pulse. The animal frequently grinds its teeth, paws and rolls as if in colic patns. In some instances the stupor passes off, tutfi a degree of sxciteuient and mod fury succeeds, which bos been mistaken for madness. Hiese were the same symptoms as exhibited by Mi Wa£ert*qjUae'9 cattle, and as I hey were seen eating the poppies, there can be no doubt as to the causs of (fctttb. Ibis should be a caution to owpera of cattle not to put poppies wiwro the cattle can get thorn.