Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1901-03-07
Feeding Moody Corn.

The annual loss OF live stock from
.erebro-spinal meningitis is quite con-
siderable. Various causes for the
spread OF this disease have been sug-
gested. One of those popularity be-
lteved In is the eating Of moldy corn.
During the fall and winter of 1889
there was a large loss Of cattle in
Indiana which was attributed to this
cause. A wet fall was respons BILE for
large quantities OF moldy corn. The
popular belief was that the organism
causing the fermentation in the corn
produced disease in the live stock. The
Indiana station studied the epidemic
and its relation to its alleged cause
the disease was found to be cerebro-
spinal meningitis. An examination OF
large number of specimens OF moldy
corn from different localities showed
that one bacteria and two molds were
common to all samples. Other micro
organisms were found, but varied In
the different samples.
Tests Of the poisonous properties OF
the moldy corn were made with two
horses. After preliminary feeding
period five cubic centimeters (about
one-sixth ounce) of an active growth
in bouillon of the bacterium found in
moldy corn was injected under the
skin. After an interval of six hours
this was followed by an injection OF
10 cubic centimeters. No appreciate
effect was observed; not even so much
as an abscess occurred. Five days
later a similar test was made with q
culture of one of the molds isolated
from the spoiled cora and after Ike
interval a similar test with a culture
of the other mold. In neither case was
any abnormal symptom observed.
Each OF the three micro-organisms
was then grown in corn meal pre-
viously sterilized. In various ways the
horses were induced to eat as much as
pounds per head daily of the infected
meal, each micro-organism being test
ed for period Of FIVE days. The effect
OF the meal inoculated with the bac-
terium and one Of the molds was mega
tive. The meal inoculated with the
other mo.d-a fusarium-proiuced red
ness OF the gums and some salvation.
The horses were then fed all the
spoiled corn they would eat On the
first three days they ate it readily, and
after that It was with difficulty that
they could be induced to eat any.
On the fifth day. one Of the horses
had slight salvation. occasional colicy
pains. and diarrhoea. On the seventh
day there was some incoordination of
movement and stupor. For two days
the animal would stand part Of the
time with the head pressed against the
wall. and then quick recovery followed.
The second horse showed some irrita-
ton of the mucous membranes Of the
mouth. but never developed any nerv-
GUS symptoms. The horse was killed.
but a post-mortem examination failed
to show any LESSONS. The two horses
ate together about four bushels OF
spoiled corn. most OF 1t being consumed
during the first week. After the first
week the corn had to be mixed with
other feed In every conceivable man
ner in order to induce the horses to eat
any of II.
In rome of the tests was cerebro-
spinal meningitis induced by the moldy
grain. The deduction drawn by the
station fJom the Investigations fol-
low:
The results OF the experiment show
that NEGOTIATIONS with cultures OF the
bacteria and molds were Ineffective.
Eating of the mashes containing pure