Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1892-01-21
ENrER1r1s IN CATTLE.
Caused By Eating Corn-stalk Fod-
der.


By request af Hon. Martin Mohler
Secretary of the State Board of Agri-
culture for Kansas, have prepared
a statement of what, in my opinion, Is
the cause of mortality among cattle,
when turned out to feed in the corn
stalk pasture. That death is caused
by acute Inflammation of the stomach
and intestines, is Of course quite plain.
I have made anumber of post-mortem
examinations on cattle after dying as
above mentioned, after being allowed
to feed to repletion upon corn-stalks,
and the symptoms presented are in
variabiy the same, viz: Extensive in
tiamation Of the alimentary canal and
coverings of the brain When cattle
are first turned into a corn-stalk pas
ture they feed voraciously, regardless
of the disastrous consequences that
SO frequently follow engagement
with this coarse, dry and almost indi-
gestible food. But as this disease is
not of a contagious or infective nature,
I am not permitted at the expense of
the state to go and personally investi-
gate the Symptoms, course and ter
mination of cases reported to me by
farmers whose stock suffer. There
fore. L can only advise by letter. Civ
ing treatment that I have found most
successful IN cases both of this nature
among my own cattle and those I have
been called upon to treat in my ca
pacity as a private Practitioner, before
I entered the service of the state.
The character Of the food and the
habits and condition of the animal,
operate as direct causes of the disease
of the alimentary canal Very rich
and concentrated food taken in undue
quantity, or very innutrItious substan-
ces, such as over-rIpe straw or hay, or
corn-stalks, which being composed al
most entirely of woody fibers and sill
con, will cause enteritis. This effect
is due more to the action of these SUBJ
stances as foreign bodies, which are
not subject to the digestive action of
the secretions of the mouth, skom-
ach and bowels, than to the want of
other elements necessary to life, and
the perpetuation of health. The di-
gestive function failing to perform its
work, the contents of the stomach and
bowels become a cause Of severe in
fiamation in which natures recupera-
tive powers too often prove unequal
to the emergency; especially is this
the case where cattle are not thor
oughly habituated to the use of IN
wholesome food. I am fully convin-
ced that the whole cause of the troub-
le in the cases where cattle die after
being turned out among corn-stalks
to feed, is due the indigestibilIty and
the large quantity of food indigested-
My personal experience while in
the cattle business WAS that by allow
ing the cattle to remain only one hour
day among the stalks until their
stCmachs became accustomed to the
work required of it, and allowing
plenty of pure water, no cattle were
lost After being handled in this way
foi about ten days, consider it safe
to turn them permanetly out among
the stalks.
When cattle are allowed to engorge
themselves with unmasticated and on
ly partly masticated food, especially
when it is Of a coarse, cellulose char
acter, it becomes impacted in the
paunch. The animal is then unable
to regurgitate the contents for tho
second and final mastication, which is
the cud-chewing process. As a con-
sequence, this body of compressed
material, acting like a thorn in the
flesh, creates an inflammation, which,
without timely and proper medical
treatment, results in fatal termination.
This inflammation upon the mucous
membrane of the stomach extends
from eontiguity of tissues to the mus
cular coats, and then on to the intes-
tines, and finally to peritoneum, set
ting up a peritonitis evolving the
entire contents of the abdominal cav
ity. This extensive and severe infam-
nation is sufficient to involve by SYM
pathy the membranes of the brain,
and the unmistakable symptoms of
meningitis are observed. The affec-
ton is usually followed soon by re-
lief in death. Corn-stalks that are
damaged by mould or rot, or contain
mated by smut, should not under any
circumstances be fed to stock, unless
to prevent starvation-when not prop
er, wholesome food could be procur-
ed. In my opinion most of the loss
es incurred by death, from indiges-
ton originating in cattle which are
allowed to have free access to COTE
stalk fodder, could be intirely avoid
ed by handling the stock as follows:
FIRsr:-Before turning them into
the stalk pasture, see that they start
in on pretty full stomachs, OF food
which they are accustomed to eating.
then they cannot possibly over-eat
the first time; then allow them to re-
main in the stalk pasture for shout an
hour each day thereafter. gradually
increasing the time, as before stated.