FARMEKS' IIS'STITUTKS. 740 



fungus. This form of oryptogamic poisoning in bogs is not at all common. 

 It 1ms, however, been reported in several herds in this State. 



Symptoms.— The gangrenous symptoms seem to be the most prominent. 

 The extremities, especially the ears and tail, lose their natural warmth 

 and vitality, and deep red spots which in a short time become black and 

 gangrenous, appear in the skin. Soon a portion of the ears and tail die, 

 separate from tlie living tissue and drop off. These gangrenous spots may 

 appear on other parts of the body as well. Swelling of the eyes, loss 

 of appetite and such nervous symptoms as vertigo, unsteadiness in stand- 

 ing and walking and moaning may also be observed. 



Treatment.— The most important part of the treatment consists in 

 cutting off the feeding of the poisonous feed, and feed a more wholesome 

 diet. The medicinal treatment consists in giving tonic preparations in 

 the feed. Iodide of potassium in ten or fifteen grain doses may also be 

 given twice daily. 



Effects of Eating Cockle-Burrs. — Numerous articles have appeared in 

 the swine breeders' journals and agricultural papers indicating that young 

 cockle-burrs were poisonous to hogs and calves. While the cockle-burr is 

 young and only three or four inches high it is very fleshy and tender, and 

 relished by stock. The claims of poisoning of stock attracted sufficient 

 attention that the Indiana Experiment Station made a chemical examina- 

 tion and a feeding test to determine the poisonous properties, but in both 

 the results were negative. The young plants, stripped of the burrs, were 

 fed to calves, pigs, rabbits and guinea pigs. They were allowed all they 

 would eat. In no case was any untoward effects noticed. We have been 

 called u^ion to post mortem some animals claimed to have died from 

 such poisoning, and in all cases death was due to the burrs. A few burrs 

 would be swallowed with the young plants, and their horny prickles 

 would irritate the stomach wall and cause inflammation, which finally 

 tei-minated in death. In three cases the burrs lodged in the throat and 

 could not be expelled. 



Scours in Young Pigs.— Causes.— Young pigs kept in damp, dark, dirty 

 pens are more susceptible to this disease than those kept in clean pens 

 and allowed jilenty of exercise, pure air and sunshine. Scours is often 

 caused within the first few days after birth bj' the feverish condition of 

 the mother affecting the character of the milk. Fermented foods, slops, 

 moldy corn, etc., when fed to the sow will also cause her to give toxic milk. 

 Chilly, damp weather, getting out in tlio wet grass when young, and 

 iirtilicial feeding are frequent causes. Some outbreaks seem to be due to 

 a germ as in the case in calves and lambs. 



Symptoms.— These may set in so soon after birth that it would seem 

 as though the pigs were l)orn wilh the affection. When delayed until 

 the pig is a few days or a few weeks old, the scours are generally preceded 

 by constipation. The symptoms of the trouble are loose evacuations, 

 grnyisli in color, which become more and more watery as the disease pro- 



