Pharmacology, Toxicology and Environmental Health Commons^™

Chemical Poisoning In Animals. 1. Arsenic, H D. Seddon

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

ARSENIC is poisonous to all animals and to man in quite small amounts and exposure to poisoning is often a result of human carelessness.

It is present in many chemical dips used for control of insect parasites on stock, and in agricultural fruit sprays and weed killers whose relative cheapness makes their use economical.

However, their potential danger and the economic loss they may cause are a disadvantage.

Poisoning Rabbits From The Air, C D. Gooding

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

AERIAL baiting gives spectacular kills of rabbits in country which cannot be effectively treated by conventional means, and has been widely adopted in New Zealand and other States in Australia.

Here Mr. Gooding reports on developments in aerial baiting in Victoria, and suggests practical applications in Western Australia.

Dingo And Fox Baits, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE Vermin Control Section of the Agriculture Protection Board has devised an effective method of preparing poison for impregnating dingo and fox baits. The method is recommended where it is not convenient to use commercial 1/2 grain strychnine tablets.

Control Of The Emu, C D. Gooding, J. L. Long

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Vermin research officers C. D. GOODING and J. L LONG give the latest recommendations for control of the emu, based on a series of observations and poisoning experiments in the northern wheatbelt.

Drugs For Worm Control. 1. Sheep Drenching Trials With Mk 360, M R. Gardiner, J. Craig

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

DRENCHING sheep with drugs designed to eliminate parasites has become an established practice in the higher rainfall districts of Western Australia.

has been tested in many trials, and their is little doubt that drenching sheep clinically affected with worms—the so-called "tactical" drench—is valuable and necessary.

However, there is usually less general acceptance of the value of "strategic" drenching— the prevention of clinical parasitism by giving the drug at certain specific times, pre-determined by a knowledge of the numerical rise and fall of the various parasites within the animal body.

Castor Beans : Ricinus Communis Linn, T Pavy

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

MANY people have seen the wild castor oil plants around the metropolitan area, growing in rubbish dumps, and waste lands.

But they have not realised that the demand for castor oil has been increasing over the last 15 years.

Although one of its main uses is in the lubrication of jet engines, it is also used in plastics, special low temperature lubricants, hydraulic fluids, paints, varnishes, textiles and pharmaceutics.

Toxic Annuals In Horticulture, Robert Dunlop Royce

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE number of poisonous shrubs and trees that are grown in gardens is very great, and several of these species have been discussed in detail.

It is probable that few people realise just how many of the commonest garden plants are in some way or under some circumstances, likely to contain a toxic principle.

Furthermore, this is not confined to the longer lived plants, but it applies equally to the annual plants, both summer growing and winter growing.

Vermin Symposium Report : Wanted : A New Approach To Rabbit Control, A R. Tomlinson

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE main reason why rabbits have not increased as rapidly as their amazing capabilities might have led people to expect has been a series of years not suitable for full breeding.

This has been more important than myxomatosis and "1080". This was one of the thoughts taken away by those who attended the rabbit control symposium held in Perth recently.

Hoary Cress (Cardaria Draba (L.) Desv.), G R W Meadly

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

HOARY CRESS, known also as Hoary Pepperwort or White Weed, is a perennial plant native to t h e Mediterranean region and Western Asia.

It has spread as a weed to northern Europe including Britain, as well as to other temperate countries among which are North America, New Zealand and Australia.

A Grazing Management Trial For The Control Of Lupinosis In Sheep, H G. Neil, C. M. Ralph, A. W. Hogstrom

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

A "WASTING" disease of sheep grazing on lupin stands, usually accompanied by heavy mortality, has become a serious problem in coastal areas between Perth and Geraldton in the past ten years.

An Improved Method Of Utilising Strychine In The Preparation Of Dingo And Fox Baits, L A. Harrison

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

AT present dingo and fox baits are made from fat or other material attractive to the animal to be poisoned, into which is inserted either alkaloid or soluble strychnine.

Lupinosis, H W. Bennetts

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

LUPINOSIS is a disease which has caused severe mortalities in West Australian sheep flocks in recent years, and one which—because of the important role which lupins are playing in light land development—must inevitably continue to be a matter of serious concern.

The Success Of The Rabbit 'Killer' Trials, A R. Tomlinson

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

SUCCESS well beyond what was anticipated has been achieved in a two year trial of a modified version of the rabbit "killer" method.

In the "killer" method, trained officers are employed to kill rabbits instead of to inspect and supervise the activities of farmers and, in fact, these officers do all the actual work of destruction.

This system was advocated by the W.A. Royal Commission which reported on Vermin Control in this State in 1944, and it was used successfully in New Zealand.

These trials were applied only to poisoning and not to overall destruction measures. The main object was …

Galah Poisoning : Kill The "Cocky", John L. Long, F. Vagg

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

NO! Not the one that tills the land, but his enemy, the pink and grey galah (Kakatoe rosei-capilla).

Farmers have usually found the destruction of galahs damaging standing crops and bagged, or stored grain, fairly difficult.

Past methods of boiling grain and adding sweetened substances are rather laborious and require a lot of time.

Now, a quick and relatively simple method is available to farmers, using paraffin oil to adhere poison to the grain.

Wild Dog Control In The North-West, R J. Fraser

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

BECAUSE of its sparsely-settled condition, the North-West of Western Australia is almost an ideal breeding-ground and hunting-ground for wild dogs.

Even the best of the pastoral country is but thinly populated and there are large areas of rugged country which is seldom traversed by white men.

Insects And Mites Found Attacking Cereal Crops In Western Australia, Clee Francis Howard Jenkins

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

ONE of the most important factors influencing Western Australian agriculture in the last 20 years has been the development of permanent pastures together with the associated practice of ley farming.

Although the increased use of pasture plants, and particularly subterranean clover, has increased the general fertility of many areas it has also accentuated various problems, including those relating to insect control.

Summer fallow was a strong deterrent to such pests as the red-legged earth mite, the lucerne flea, and webworm and these and several other creatures have shown a tendency to increase under new farming methods.

Hit Rabbits This Winter : It Will Check Breeding And Give More Valuable Feed For Summer Grazing, C Marshall

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

NOW that the current summer "1080" Rabbit Drive is drawing to a close, it is time we considered our future plans.

I am afraid that in the past most farmers have relied far too much on summer control as the complete answer to rabbit destruction and that this reliance has increased considerably following the introduction of "1080" poison, plus the valuable assistance received from the myxomatosis virus.

Spraying Guide For The Control Of Pests And Diseases Of Fruit Trees, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE following guide for the spraying of fruit trees has been prepared as a ready reference for fruit growers and as a seasonal reminder of control measures necessary to deal with orchard pests and diseases.

The charts have been kept as brief as possible consistent with supplying details of recommended materials, concentrations and time of application, and growers should comsult Departmental leaflets or Departmental officers for more detailed information.

Bracken Poisoning In Cattle, P B. Lewis

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE ingestion of bracken fern causes the death of numbers of young cattle in the South-West of Western Australia every year.

Early experimental work in the United Kingdom demonstrated that bracken contained an anti-Vitamin Bl factor called thiaminase which was thought to be the cause of the poisoning, but later work indicated that a bone marrow poisoning, not yet chemically identified, was responsible.

Feeding Pickled Wheat To Pigs, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

INQUIRIES are frequently received from farmers asking whether it is safe to feed pickled wheat to pigs, and if so, the quantities which would be suggested.

Until very recently there was no experimental information on the safety or possible dangers of these wheat pickling agents, but feeding trials completed last year at the Animal Health and Nutrition Laboratory, Nedlands, have provided some of the answers to these questions.

Insect Pests : Aphides, Clee Francis Howard Jenkins

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE members of the aphis family are remarkable creatures both in structure and habits.

They are practically world-wide in their distribution and despite their small size and apparent fragility they thrive under a wide variety of conditions and are among the most prolific breeders in the animal kingdom

Vermin Control In W.A, A R. Tomlinson

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE annual report of the Agriculture Protection Board of W.A. for 1958-1959 indicated that while vermin control had continued at a relatively high standard throughout the State, most of the animal and bird pests were at the lowest level within the memory of most people.

However, there were ample warnings that any relaxation in control work could have rapid and serious consequences.

There Is No Mystery About 1080, A R. Tomlinson

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

DESPITE the widespread publicity given to sodium fluoroacetate or "1080" and its general use throughout agricultural areas, there appear to be many misconceptions regarding the poison itself, its control, dangers and precautions and also the method of application. I will mention several of the questions often asked and give the answers.

Zamia Palm Poisoning, F C. Wilkinson

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE Zamia palm (Macrozamia Reidlei) is a common plant in the jarrah and karri forest country and on the coastal plains and is one of the earliest recorded Australian poison plants.

Rats And Mice And Their Control, C D. Gooding, J. L. Long

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

BEFORE colonisation by the white man, Australia contained over 50 species of rats and mice.

Although several of these native species have been known to breed to plague proportions they are normally slower breeders than the introduced species.

Once settlement had been established on our shores it was only a matter of time before the introduction of more of these pests, occurred probably from the British Isles.

Control Of The Red-Legged Earth Mite And Lucerne Flea : Treatment Of Seed With Systemic Insecticides, M M H Wallace

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE red-legged earth mite, Halotydeus destructor (Tuck.), and the lucerne flea, Sminthurus viridis (L.), are at present controlled effectively, cheaply and safely by a combined DDT/malathion spray (Jenkins, 1956, 1957) and this continues to be the general recommendation for farmers.

However, this combination has some disadvantages. The DDT in the spray ensures some residual control of the earth mite but has the unfortunate property of toxicity to the bdellid mites which are useful predators of the lucerne flea.

The malathion in the spray assists the DDT to control the earth mite and provides a good, quick kill of the lucerne …