CYANO GENE SIS IN SORGHUM VULGARE 4' poisoned animals were saved by the prompt exhibition of natron, followed by sim sim (sesame) oil.

Viscount Frankfort, Inspector, Dongola, also spoke of the danger from givingimmature dura, and cited the fact that at the end of 1901 and the beginning of 1902 there was a great mortality in cattle at Affat Dabbah. They had fed on dura affected by some species of rust.

_ Maj°r Borton, from Suakin, had much the same to say as Mr. Neville, and in addition remarked that— 1. If rainfall suddenly ceases after a good start in growth has been made, plants have been known to have poisonous effects.

2. When eaten dry after failing to mature from want of rain the stalks are poisonous.

3. When the dura heads have been eaten by locusts the stalks are said to be poisonous, but animals will rarely touch them.

There seems to be some difference of opinion amongst the various observers as to whether dura, which has been poisonous, becomes harmless when thoroughly sundried or air-dried.

Briinnich1 gives the following as precautionary measures :— 1. All fodder plants related to sorghum must be used with discretion, in either the green or the dried state, and should not be given in large amounts to animals which have fasted for some time.

2. Sorghum should never be used in a very immature stage of growth, but only when the seed ears are well developed.

Mr. Neville, as stated, lays stress on the normality or otherwise of the crop, and seems to agree with the native opinion that in the Sudan thoroughly dried dura is innocuous. The latter statement is borne out by Professor Dunstan’s experiments 2 at the Imperial Institute. Several samples of young green sorghum vulgare have been examined in the laboratories and the presence of hydrocyanic acid demonstrated. There is a belief in Australia that the plant is more poisonous when attacked by insects during a dry season, a statement elicited by Quinnel. I mentioned this to Mr. Sillitoe, the head gardener, when he was collecting aphisinfected dura for fodder. He lost one animal fed on it, and several others were seriously ill.

At the same time I made a comparison of two samples of dura of the same age; the one normal, the other harbouring aphides. As shown there was certainly more hydrocyanic acid present in the latter, but no conclusions can be based on Dongola Suakin Precautionary measures Influence of insect infection on cyanogenesis 1 Journal Chemical Society, July, 1903 2 Technical Reports, &c., 1903