PHAR LAP’S DEATH

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 167, 11 April 1932, Page 9

PHAR LAP’S DEATH

Due to Arsenical Poisoning

LEAF SPRAY ON GRASS

Grazed in Tainted Pasture

OFFICIALS’ CONCLUSIONS

By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Rec. April 10, 5.5 p.m.) San Francisco, April 9. A Government official has declared that an inspection of Phar Lap’s organs reveals that the horse was poisoned by a spray used on the trees at Menlo Park on March 31. This drifted into the grass which the horse ate. Traces of the same poison were found in the clay and straw in Phar Lap's stall.

Mr. W. W. Vincent, chief of the Western Division, United States Food and Dijugs Bureau, said on Saturday that he had found poison in the grass in the pasture that supplied forage for Phar Lap. The spray was undoubtedly blown into the field from the oak trees which had been sprayed with poison on March 31. Mr. Vincent said that the oak trees surrounded the field in which Phar Lap was allowed to roam. He also said that if further tests reveal that the spray had fallen widely over the grass there will be little doubt but that the mystery of Phar Lap’s death will be solved. A test of the grass revealed .01 grain of arsenic per pound of forage. As the spray also contained lend arsenate in the ratio of 21 Jo 1 part of arsenic, further analysis of the forage was expected to reveal this poison. 'The authorities explained that both have a cumulative effect, therefore the amount taken In forage in a few days was sufficient to kill an animal. It is recalled that numerous cattle and horses grazing in the vicinity died mysteriously recently. _ zln earlier message from San Francisco stated that a preliminary examination of the vital organs of Phar Lap failed to show any trace of poison. Dr. Karl Meyer, of the Hooper Medical Foundation University, California, made this statement on Friday, and added: “That does not mean that there is no poison present in the organs. I have many tests to conduct, and it may be several weeks before I know definitely.”