The Globe-republican., 1909-12-02

IL foila&rn I'D MAN 10 the same 0leoee(
as blind staggers In the horse, the cause
may have been dlscoyered. Investigator
at the Kansas State Agricultural College
have recently isolated . germ from de-
caying corn which forms Z toxins fatal
to horses and rabbits. It also produces
many Of the symptoms and LESSONS Of
cerebritis or blind ataggers In the horse.
These seem to be the first positive re-
suits upon this subject. It 10 generally
conceded that blind staggers In the horse
is an acute form Of the same disease as
pellagra In man.
Most Investigators have confined their
researches to the form Of the disease rs
1t occurs In man alone. The Veterinary
Depa rtment Of the Kaneas State Agrlcul-
tural College has proceeded upon radi-
cally different lines, aiming rather to
strike at the original Of the trouble keep.
ing prominently in mind the principles
applicable to human life, and the tre-
mendous Significance Of the disease in
man.
DR.. F. s. Schoenleber In his recent re-
cent report to the Board of Regents of the
Kansas State Agricultural College said {:
"We have every reason to believe that
the cause Of this human scourge will ul-
timately find its solution through the re-
search done In some veterinary labora.
tory In one Of our great corn producing
states. All the scientific facts bearing on
the subject Of pellagra as described In
the recent article In McClurea, and more,
have been recorded through experimental
work done in the Veterinary Laboratory
of the Kansas State Agricultural College
months ago. There should be absolutely
no reason why the opportunities afforded
In the corn fields Of Kansas, which are
extremely fertile In the materials for the
work, should not be appropriated and
the research pushed to at least interna-
tional prominence, If not to successful
ISSUE"
The work Is being prosecuted mainly
along three general lines:
First:-A complete study of the micro
occurring upon corn with es-
pecial reference to their ability to pro.
duce toxines.
Second:-A corn survey Of the State
now being made to determine the species
Of molds and bacteria present upon the
corn.
Third: = Extensive feeding expert
ments now In progress with corn affected
with molda and bacteria.
Minor lines Of investigation are being
pushed and every precaution is being
taken to safeguard the work at every
step.
AS an indication of the magnitude OF
these researches, 1t may be stated that
several hundred samples of diseased corn
from different sections of Kansas have
been examined and the organisms caus-
ing thoee diseases determined. Over a
score of molds and half as many bacteria
have been found. some of them appar.
emily new to science. Many Of then,
harmless to animals but causing loss of
hundreds of thousands of dollars 10 the
corn growers In the State OF Kansas
alone because Of diminished cropsI
through barren stalks and damaged ears.
One result of the work ia the demonstra-
ton of the fact that hundreds of thoue-
ands Of dollars might be saved to the
farmers in the corn belt each year by
simple rotations that would make impos-
siole the growth of these corn diseases.
DR.. Schoenleber and Mr.. II P Hasem
and their assistants are pushing these in
Testigations as rapidly as possible con-
'isIent with good work and results will
be anxiously awaited by the stock man,
he corn grower, the physician, and the
cientist