Mexico weekly ledger., 1901-11-21
COM Stalk DISEASE.


SPRINGFIELD, III. Nov. l&-The
state board Of live stock commission
ers have received many reports from
various parts o. the state of 4 cattle
disease, which, upctn Investigation,
proved 10 te what is known as the
corn stalk disease. The reported loss
es Of eattie from this ulalady have
reached into hundreds. In view OF
this situation, the following bulletin
prepared by DR.. L. c. Tifeny, Assist /
ant state veterinarian, and Issued BY
the commissioners
Corn stalk disease is 80 called TOT |
the reason that the disease only oc-
curs when cattle aF- heing fed upon
corn stalks standing in the feld from
which the corn has been gathered. II
Il neither infectious nor Contagious
The carasses may be handled with
immunity and the hides be removed
and sold with safety.
Perhaps without previous warning
one or more cattle may be found dead
which few hours previous may have
been entirely well. Attention being
directed 10 the balance OF the herd,
Others may be discovered Isolated
from the rest, standing with back
somewhat arched and its movement
/ if attempted may be performed with
much difficulty, the animal stagger-
or falling to the ground.
Occasionally, however, one may be
delirious, with paralysis yet absent,
land may attack the attendant furi-
ously. This is not constant symp-
tom. however, and is often seen in 9TH
er diseases.
Twitching Of the muscles Of the AMI
mails limbs or neck is often present,
and grave detection is apparent In the
countenance. In a few hours, often
in a short time, paralysis has 50 far
advanced that the patient falls and is
unable to rise, after which, move
ment OF the limbs, as paving with
| the front and striking with the hind,
NAV continue with short intermissions
until death supervenes. Frequently
the head and neck are drawn back
ward and eyeballs rotated upward.
Moaning is quite constant, and death
results from paralysis.
From the symptoms described one
should think that the central nervous
system is involved and such is the
fact
:. Upon the exposure Of the brain ano
: spinal cord the coverings tmeninges
are found congested, while the othel
organs Of the body are found healthy
, except occasionally the manyplie
u tomasum) is found distended, with II
e contents very dry, but this condition
u IS Of no significance here, as the sam
y is often found after death from entire
. ly different causes. Sometimes, alsc
local congestlons, which are reall
. post-mortem changes, may be foun6
s. IL is strictly a disease Of the neryou
- system.
le Many theories have been advance
Y as TO the cause OF this disease, whic
cy have been proven erroneous. One di
sh tinguIshed investigator thought II
ng be infectious and that he had di
ne covered its germ, which could
M communicated to the Others. IN
H. error caused much alarm abroad ar
ne some interference with cattle tram
nt This cause, in my opinion, is a pois
W. nous fungus, which develops on u
So stalk or blade, invisible, but sure
)m present
in The different fungi (and the nul
my bers and kinds are innumberal,l
that a field that may be safe tod
tomorrow may not Thus we have
= hint as to what may occur Medic
Z treatment is unavailing and the be
should be abandoned for cattle fee
ing at once.
The only sure meanse Of PREVENT
Is the abolition Of the custom Of
{ blowing cattle to run upon the stall
Z Ihave never known shock corn to p
- duce any trouble whatever, exec
perhaps, arrangement Of the digesti
!. organs, If fed immoderately, or VII
the quality is bad. Many will obj
inst TO such a change in the harvest
corn, and with very large fields it n
seem impracticable, but the
ira expense involved will be more tt
900 compensated by the additional amoI
oad of nutrition found In the stalk,
be- sides eradicatlDg risk Of loss by
ited ease.
Corn, With its stalk and blades,
,s one Of our most valuable products
hne stock food, and when in perfect C
'nsh dition and fed with moderation c
w. tains no elementof danger, but wi
- these conditions are not present
Ia mense loss often results. Immat
'ha, corn Is highly dangerous for food
NJ horses, but harmless for cattle
swine, although deficient In nutriti
,ho This latter has no reference to C
"a stalk disease, for that occurs ul
naa fields Of apparent excellent quality
49, l.. @. TIFFANY,
Assistant State Veterinarian