Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1893-01-20
THE CORNSTALK DISEASE.
Detection and Prevention OF This Serious
Ailment.
DR.. Frank S. Billings reports as fol-

AilmeNt.
Dr.. Frank S. Billings reports as fol-
lows:
In endeavoring to portray the symptoms OF
this disease we come face to face with a ques-
ton Of exceeding difficulty, because of their
very close resemblance to other diseases which
occur in cattle in our western states, and even
anthrax itself offers intra-vital phenomena
which more or less closely resemble those pre-
sented by this disease, especially in the most
acute form. This fact has led many veterina-
rians into most serious errors in diagnosis. The
occurrence of this disease in the months from
November to March must be of essential differ
entail diagnostic value.
Like the swine plague. this disease may b.
fatal in twenty-four hours, or it may extend to
eight or ten days or some weeks before such a
result occurs. 1t is not n universally fatal dis
case, as we now know better than ever before.
Primarily we have to do with an acute blood
poisoning disease, which. like all such diseases.
is accompanied by Il more or less excessive ex-
accrbation of the bodily temperature, varying,
SO far as known, from ~ dc:ss. c.. to AZ dcgs. c.
that is, from 1922 dcys. r.. to lU7. 6 dcys. L.
these disturbances OF the circulation FIRE.
Quently extend to the brain, where cnrorre-
ment and cerebral pressure occur, which in
some animals takes on the form of "craziness,'
as the owners call it. The animals then below
f~carfully and chase other animals, especially
dogs, hogs or fowls. but seldom human beings.
This has led to the mistake of their being
called mad" at times, and to this disease be-
ing mixed up with so called ENCYCLOPEDIAS" in
cattle by some veterinarians. Other animals
stand by themselves or are depressed and loath
to move. Separation from their companions is
one OF the first indications Of illness. AS near
~ as can discern they can all swallow and all
drink. AS in swine plague and southern cattle
plague, constipation is Il very frequent occur
renee, while laXity Of the bowels also often oc-
ours and may be looked upon as rather a IA
vorable complication. Red urine does not or.
cur. The visible mucosB are injected and
often have a yellowish red tinge. Ny inocu-
lated steer drank all the time, and even ate u
little during its most i'll days. That such sick
animals should be disinclined to eat and often
to drink is no wonder; but if clear wafer is
placed before them no difficulty in swallowing
will he discovered. Milk COWS soon slucken in
their yield OF the lactcal fluid, and frequently
the secretion ceases altogether for II time,
1t must be borne in mind that if the manure
and litter from a cattle yard where animals
have had this disease are taken out and strpwu
over O field and then plowed in, and that field
IS planted with corn, such corn is very liza
bic to become invaded by this germ. and thus
can be tho cause of moro losses in cattle if
SOAuSN AHIO SuCu u Slttlh uclU' Inc cnSnlnr
fall and winter.
On the eruption of this disease in a herd of
cattle which have been used to do the lazy
mans cleaning in q stalk field the first stcp to
DC taken Is the peremptory withdrawal of the
herd from such a field and such fodder. The
next thing to do is either to number, brand or
adopt some other means by which a record can
DC Kept of each animal in the lot, and then
lake the temperature of each one night and
morning. All with Il temperature of over III.
degs. +. must be looked upon as suspicious.
Inose In which 1t does not exceed or rise over
i% dees. r. need not cause any worry. There
Is no need of separating the sick from the well.
as the disease is not contagious.
a saline purgative is indicated for all the
animals. Those that die should be crcmutcd.
ana with them u lot of the litter in the yard.
II possible to avoid it, the regular cattle
yard should never be used for such cattle after
any OF them have become i'll. Again | rcpca,
IN no case should u particle of the manure or
refuse from u place where such cattle have
oech confined ever be used for fertilizing pu,-
poses. Burn it up.
The illustrations of the disease in corn and
descriptions OF the same have put us in POSSES
SION o! That practical knowledge by which we
should H able to invariably tell when the
growing corn i'll our fields is infested with this
germ SO dangerous to our live stock. The oucs-
toh oi prevention should be the simple matter
""ssA W. u lSllo ~ nlil(S n r
Ing III stock to do tho post harvest cleaning.
FROM conversation with several farmers l am
quite convinced that even now some of them
nave quite distinct ideas Of tho manner in
which the corn itself is affected, and thut ~
we nave obtained an exact description of this
Tartn on the story from tho botanical side W..
should now be able to totally prevent this dis.
caso III our iive stock 20 far as the cleaning of
nrcOrh ilelds Is concerned. But this still Icnyc.
ustO race several uncertainties, which cnn only
Dc settled by careful observation by farmers
ana exact investigation by competent invr.ti
gators.
Knowing that the corn foldc, Is disc, s,d
Doth ny to tho liusks and leaves, the question il,
docs tho germ also penetrate tho cob and
growing kernel, ana can they also cnus. I'm,
disclscl ~"
Are grasses also infested by Ills gcr,nY AM,
II 80, which, This last Is IL very inuortnn,
question, for If they cannot be, then such nrIIs
can DC used for raising grasses. mi. cnn Nv,
pest determined by actual cX pcrimcnt hv intoI
!ischt farmers, who should turn smell nnII.
into GRASSES, including patches OF miIlct md
grover. ana then feed IL few, cattle with cu"I,
Kind without tLu ndmixturc Of unv oth"r h""
buccOus food. o W.
IL would bc well IL the cxpcrjncn, .,,,,o,.
would make suitable rI.ngc,ncnts in Iii.
"'rcctloh WIN intelligent farmers ana hr,, H.,
expense of using such I'm Infected corn field "",
experimentation IN about tho rollowin, m.n.
ncr: ""ah'
1t should DO thoroughly clcu,,sed Of nj, ,.,,..