Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1913-01-01
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THE KEOWEE COURIER
. BY J. Linn Ladd. J
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Forage Poison " Farm Animals.


of the above subject; the winter
months of 1911-12 having brought to
the station many letters from differ
ent portions Of the State complain
ing Of outbreaks Of what was often
referred to as "a mysterious disease
among horses, cattle and mules. The
heaviest losses occurred in the river
bottom counties, though cases occur
red in all portions of the State. More
horses were attacked than cattle, and
more cattle than mules. However, in
only one outbreak did horses and cat
tie on the same farm suffer. The au-
thor made personal observations and
Investigations in four counties, which
convinced him that the disease was
forage poisoning; though it is vari-
ously called epizootic, cerebro-spinal
meningitis and blind staggers. In
most cases it is traceable to feeding
unsound corn, moldy fodder or ensi-
lage.
What puzzled ia, farmers most
was that while al. their animals were
fed alike, only cne-tenth to three
fourths Of them would be attacked
Evidently those that escaped either
happened not to get enough Of the
poison to produce the symptoms Of
the disease, or their constitutions
were able to resist It's effects.
Both veterinarians and stockmen
have observed that outbreaks Of this
trouble usually occur during rainy
fall months, following dry summer
Such weather favors the formation
grain and fodder Of corn, and even
on grasses. 1t has also been found
that drainage water from fields Of
corn carries these mold germs into
the brooks and ponds and thus scat
ter the poison among herds that
drink therefrom.
1t has been demonstrated in Ken
lucky that this disease can be con-
trolled by Withholding the moldy
feed and infected water and feeding
only sound grain and forage and pure
water. This does not cure those ami
mails already attacked Ga large per-
c,ntage Of which die), but it does
prevent new attacks.
This disease was first described by
Prof. Large, Of New York, in 1850.
since which time 1t has been investi-
gated by many veterinarians, some
Of whom deny that it is of bacterial
origin or is due to moldy feed; but
the preponderance of evidence and
op.rion is overwhelmingly against
them
However, the authorities are not
agreed as to what specific germ
causes the poisoning. Some investi-
gators fail to eliminate any bacteria
that will produce the disease in ami
mails inoculated with it. Dr. Haslam,
of the Kansas station, found one
which proved fatal to horses and
rabbits when injected into their
veins, and he found this germ abund-
ant in all samples Of the excrement
Of the corn worm examined by him.
He also found that it was just as YER
lie and active after boiling for half
an hour as before. Some authorities
contend that forage poisoning Of live
stock is due to the same germ that
causes pellagra in the human species.
AS yet this is an unsupported theory.
At a few stations moldy feed and
wormy corn have been fed without
any injurious results; but in all such
cases the tests were made at a season
unfavorable to the development OF
the poisonous bacteria.
This disease occurs in three types:
The acute, or rapidly fatal; the sub
acute, which is slower but generally
ends in death, and the chronic, or
milder form, in which the animal
may recover under proper treatment.
A list Of fourteen questions was
sent to all the graduate veterina-
rians OF Kentucky, touching cases Of
this disease that may have come to
their knowledge, and the feed, wa
ter, symptoms, treatment, results,
etc, and the replies show that in
every case moldy feed had been given
and in more than nine-tenths Of the
cases moldy corn had been fed.
Thus far no medicine used has
proven to be OF any benefit except
that purgatives, when given early in
Trials Of various emDiric remedies