The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1913-07-12

sas suffer, from time TO time,
losses OF cattle when they are
pastured upon corn stalk fields. Some
of these, doubtless, die from eating
too much dry and indigesubIe food,
others from diseases which are not in
any way derived from corn stalks.
However, many cattle die from symp-
toms so typical that the term Corn
NStalk Disease has gradually acquired
the significance Of a disease in which
the cattle show prevailingly nervous
symptoms. The onset OF the disease
is sometimes sudden. Preliminary
symptoms come on a few hours be-
fore the severe attack. At first the
animals seem to be sluggish and to
separate themselves from the remain
der of the herd The next symptom
which comes on may be viciousness.
Animals previously very gentle may
attack a man or horse. This symp-
tom frequently escapes observation.
The walk is very staggering and the
animal stands with legs braced apart
After a short time it falls to the
ground and lies trembling violently.
On approaching it when in this con-
dition it frequently takes no notice
until one is quite close, then starts
suddenly as if much frightened. 1t
is not unusual for it to bawl almost
constantly. The animal goes down
on the ground and draws its body
into a peculiar position. Saliva drools
from the mouth and bloody feces is
passed from the rectum. Most cases
die within six OF eight hours after
violent symptoms are noted, a few
live longer. In those cases which
die quickly the contents OF the stOm-
ach are found to be practically nor
NAL; this contradicts the theory that
the trouble is caused by loading the
stomach with indigestibIe food.
Many theories have been advanced
to explain this trouble. The theory
of impaction, that is, overlooking the
stomach with indigestibIe material
has been discussed. Some believe
that a poisonous weed in the field is
the cause, others that certain stalks
of corn are poisonous, others that the
corn in connection with certain weeds
liberates hydrocianic OF prussic acid
and that this acid is the active agent
in the disease. In fact much work
has been done upon the various
phases of the prussic acid theory be
cause the symptoms of this disease
quite closely resemble those which
might arise from a small dose of prus
sic acid. More will be said about
these theories in discussing the eX
periments which the veterinary de
partment of the Kansas State AgTi
cultural College has carried out.
Many farmers have been of the
opinion that in some way or other
the small stalks of corn which do not
develop ears (suckers) are the cause
of this disease. They have main
tanned that because these were green
and sweet that the cattle, when turn
ed into the field, ate them in prefer
ence to the others. To test this the
college placed one yearling heifeI
and one yearIing steer in a feed lot
under the care of DR.. c. W. Hobbs
of Smith Center. These animals were
fed for about two months on such
stalks. The stalks were cut and
brought in fresh so that the calves
were never fed stalks more than two
days old. The stalks were cut from
fields in which cattle had contracted
the corn stalk disease only a short
time before. The cIaves received il
addition a very small amount Of al