The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1901-01-04
CORNSTALK DISEASE IN
CATTLE.
E. l.. Moore. Veterinarian to II
s. Experiment station.

fy lug uullDer OF CauGle Wnen turned IN
to fields of standing cornstaks in the
fall, is not, as some seem to think,
new disease but has been present in
this country for thirty or forty years.
Gamgee, in lS6S-69, as we'll as later in
vestig gators, have fed varying quanti-
ties of corn smut to cattle without pro-
ducing the disease. Efforts to isolate
q poisonous product from the corn
stalks has also proved unavailing.
Not only has the germ isolated by
Billings been shown to be harmless,
but efforts to obtain any disease pro-
ducing germ have been frutless. Mayo
/ (of Kansas at one time believed that
possibly large amount of. potassium
nitrate which he described as being
present in'the stalks, acted as poison,
but this view cannot be upheld, since
the disease maysappear when there are
no such large amounts of nitrate pres
ent as in Mayo's cases. A compari-
son between the stalks left standing in
the field and those which have been
harvested asfodder will readily show
that in the former case very large
per cent of the nutritave value of such
stalk has been lost They are tibrous,
largely indigestable and have been ex-
posed to the attacks of various germs
producing decay. Today we look up
on the disease as being due to an over
loading of the stomach with this indi-
gestable, spoiled fodder, causing in
flammation of the stomachs, impaction
of the third stomach and accompany
ing evils.
The 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 back
is arched, 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 mo-
tive from place to place, staring wild
ly at the eyes, frota ing 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 attack
continue until the animal finally be-
comes too exhausted to stand, falling
to the ground and dying in spasm of
pain or in stupor or coma. Bloat-
ing may or may not be present.
Death occurs rapidly, usually within
twenty -four hours after the first attack
is noted.
Treatment may be divided into pre-
yentative and curative. The prevent
ative treatment consists in avoiding
turning the animals into the stalk
fields when they are hungry. They
should be allowed grain ration be-
fore they have access to the stalks.
Preferably this should be a laxative in
nature, as bran, haxseed, oil meal,
ETC., or roots may be given. Allow
the animals to remain in the stalks
bnt for short time, say half an hour,
the first day, gradually increasing the
length Of their stay. That this method
of prevention is effectual has been
proved by the testimony Of feeders
from all states in which the trouble
has existed. If instead Of allowing
the cornstalks to stand in the field ex-
posed 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 cornstalk
disease which has been prevalent in
some states, has disappeared as soon
as it became the general practice to
harvest the stalks as fodder. The
practical prevention, then, lies IN cut
ting the stalks.
Curative treatment, owing to the
rapiditv with which the disease runs its
course, may not in mant cases be ef-
fcctnai. We may employ EPSON or
glauber salts ia one and a half pound
. doses or, the same amount OF equal
parts OF these salts. given as drench.
It would be we'll also to give this dose
as physlc TO the remaining animals
of the herd, even though they may not
exhibit any symptoms Of the disease.
Instead OF using salts we may employ
raw linseed oil quart, belladona and
glycerine in equal parts, 6 ozs., given
as a drench. We may attempt to COM
bat symptoms Of abdominal pain or
nervous excitability by giving potas-
sium bromide in ounce do e., powdered
opium in three dram doses, morphine
IN ten grain doses, or possibly better
powdered cannabis indica in half
ounce doses. Free bleeding even in
the comparatively earlier stages OF the
disease, has not, in my experience,
proved efectual, although it may be
. resorted to when We have marked nerv-
Gus symptoms.