Molteno, noun

/mɒlˈtiːnəʊ/
Origin:
The name of the district in the Eastern Cape in which the disease was first investigated (see E. London Dispatch quotation 1912).
a. Pathology. In the n. phrr. Molteno cattle disease, Molteno disease, Molteno sickness, Molteno straining disease, seneciosis, a disease of livestock, especially of cattle, caused by chronic poisoning due to the ingestion of any of several species of Senecio which affects the liver of the animal.
Note:
Seneciosis in horses is usually known as dunsiekte (sense 1 b).
1912 Queenstown Rep. 27 Feb. 7 (Pettman)The results leave no doubt that the Molteno disease of South Africa can be caused by the consumption of S. latifolius.
1912 E. London Dispatch 5 Mar. 7 (Pettman)The name Molteno disease arose from the fact that the Molteno Farmers’ Association was responsible for the first investigation into the cause of what is still often referred to as merely black gallsick.
1929 Farming in S. Afr. Apr. 20Molteno disease..very closely resembles Dunsiekte or Enzootic Liver Cirrhosis in horses.
1972 N. Sapeika in Std Encycl. of Sn Afr. VII. 296Ingestion of certain Senecio plants has long been known to cause liver damage, which may result in death in cattle and horses (Molteno sickness; dunsiekte).
1976 Mönnig & Veldman Handbk on Stock Diseases 214Chronic Senecio poisoning in cattle is known as Molteno cattle disease or purging disease.
1988 T.S. Kellerman et al. Plant Poisonings & Mycotoxicosis of Livestock 5Seneciosis..is caused by hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids contained by Senecio spp...It is..responsible for chronic disease, locally known as Molteno straining disease in cattle and dunsiekte in horses.
b. comb.
Molteno disease plant, any of several plants of the genus Senecio (family Asteraceae) which are toxic to livestock, especially S. retrorsus and S. latifolius; dunsiektebossie, see dunsiekte sense 2. See also Dan’s cabbage.
1934 Farming in S. Afr. Mar. 97The following is a list of the various species of Senecio known to be poisonous...Senecio isatideus..(ragwort, Dan’s cabbage)...Senecio retrorsus..(ragwort, Dan’s cabbage, Molteno disease plant).
1966 C.A. Smith Common Names 341Molteno disease plant, Senecio burchellii..and S. retrorsus...Both species are regarded as the cause of Molteno disease in stock.
1976, 1981 [see Dan’s cabbage].
In the n. phrr. Molteno cattle disease, Molteno disease, Molteno sickness, Molteno straining disease,seneciosis, a disease of livestock, especially of cattle, caused by chronic poisoning due to the ingestion of any of several species of Senecio which affects the liver of the animal.
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moloi, nounn.molweni, interjectionint.
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