The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1900-12-29

cornstalk Dlsease I'm Cattle.
By E. l.. Moor,, Veterinarian to U. S. Experi-
mant Station Brookipgs.
This disease, proving fatal toa vary
Eing number Of cattle when turned into
fields OF standing cornstalks during the
fall, Is net. as some seem to othink, a new
disease. but has heen present in this
country for thirty or forty years. Gam
gee in 1868 SO, as we'll as latter inyestiga-
tors. have fed varying quantities Of corn
smutto cattle without producing the
disease. Efforts to isolate poisonous
product from the cornstalks have also
proved unayailing. Not only has the
germ isolated by Billings been shown to
be harmless but efforts to obtain any dis
ease producing germ nave been fraitless.
Mayo lof Kansas) at one time believed
that possibly a large amounto potassium
nitrate which he described as being pre-
sent in the stalks, acted as a poison, but
this view cannot be upheld, since the
disease may appear when there arc no
such large amountsof nitrate present as
in Mayo's cases. A comparison between
the stalks left standing 10 the field and
those which have been harvested as fod-
der will readily show that in the former
casa a very large per centof the nutrltive
value Of such stalks has been lost. They
are filrous, largely indigestible and have
been exposed to the attacks OF various
germs producing decay. Today We look ]
upon the disease as being due to an over
loading of the stomach with this in
digestible. spoiled fodder, causing in
tlammation of tho stomachs, impaction
OF the third stomach and accompanying
evils.
Ths attack comes on rapidly, there
usually being few initial symptoms.
The diseased animal is dull, spiritless,
often found lying down apart from the
rest OF the herd. On standing the hack
is archod, eyes wild and it may exhibit
signs of abdominal pain by looking
toward the flank or kicking at belly. As
the symptoms become more marked it
moves with an unsteady, staggering gait,
moving apparently without motive from
place to place, staring wildly at the eyes,
trothing at the mouth, believing loudly,
When the animal stands during brief
lucid interval the attack may be brought
on again BY suddenly disturbing it.
These attacks continue until the animal
finally becomes tGo exhausted to stand,
falling to the ground and diving in q
spasm of pain or in stupor or coma.
Bloating may or not be present. Death
occurs rapidly, usually within twenty
four hours after the first attack is noted.
Treatment may be divided into the
preventative and curative. The pre-.
ventative treatment consists in avoiding
turning the animals into the etalk fields
when they are hungry. They should be
allowed u grain ration before they have
access to the stalks. Preferably this
should be laxative in nature, as bran,
| flaxseed, oil meal, ETC., or roots may be
given. Allow the animals to remain in
the stalks but for short time, say half
an hour, the first day, gradually increas-
ing the length Of their stay. That this
method Of prevention is eifectual has
been proved by the testimony Of feeders
from all states in which the trouble has
existed. II instead of allowing the corn
stalks TO stand in the field exposed to
wind and weather, they are cut and cured
and then fed, no trouble from this source
will be experienced. It is worthy OF
notice that corBstalk disease which has
been prevalent in some states. has disap-
peared as soon as it became the general
practice to harvest the stalks as fodder.
The practical prevention, then, lies in
cutting the stalks.
Curative treatment, owing to the
rapiditv with which the disease runs its
course, may not in many cases be
effectual. We may employ EPSON or
glauber salts in one and half pound
doses; or, the same amount OF equal parts
of thesetwo salts, giyel, as a drench. It
would be we'll also to give this dose as a
physic to the remaining animals OF the
herd, even though they may not exhibit
any symptoms OF the disease. IIstead of
I using salts we may employ raw linseel
oil quart, belladona aud glycerine 10
equal parts, 6 ozs., given as drench.
j We may attempt to combat symptoms Of
abdominal pain or nervous excitaSility
| by giving potassium bromide in ounce
doses, powdered opium III three dram
4 doses, morphine in ten grain doses, or,
possibly better, powered cannabis indica
in half ounce 6oses. Free bleeding even
In the comparatively earlier stages Of.
( the disease, has not, In my experience,
J proved effsctual. although h it may be re-
sorted to when We have marked nervous
!. symptoms. {
I The Sioux Falls Argns Leader says:
J. Several New York banks have put up
the rate Of interest paid to deposit0rs
from 81 to a per cent. The banks say
! they have b good demand for money, aud
can afford to advance their rate to de-