Poisoning of Cattle. . 139 



From these previous experiments it was concluded that the maize 

 so infected had no harmful effect on animals to which it was fed. 



Although these results were fairly conclusive, the experience 

 of many farmers pointed definitely to the harmful results of allow- 

 ing cattle to graze in mealie lands where cobs were abundant and 

 which, for the first few days at any rate, constituted almost the sole 

 article of diet. 



Por this reason it was decided to commence a series of experi- 

 ments at the Maritzburg Laboratory, utilizing mealie cobs obtained 

 from farms where the disease had recently occurred. 



Through the assistance of Mr. Power, Senior Veterinary Surgeon, 

 Katal, sufficient material was obtained for the tests from various 

 farmers in the Estcourt DiA^sion. Some cobs were forwarded to 

 the Government Botanist, Pretoria, for determination of the infect- 

 ing fungus present, and were reported on by him as follows: ''The 

 mealie cobs referred to in your minute of 30th September last are 

 infected with the fungus Diplodia zea." 



For the tests four oxen were selected which had been on the 

 station for about two years and had been fed only on grass in the 

 paddocks adjoining the laboratory. These animals were about five 

 years old and in good condition. During the experiments they were 

 tied up in the stable and watered by hand with water obtained from 

 the river close by. The mealies on the cob were fed as received from 

 the farmers, but in all cases the mealie grains only were eaten, the 

 central core being- rejected. It is, therefore, difficult to say definitely 

 what weight of material was actually eaten. 



Quantities of material fed : — 



Ox No. 88 mOlh. 



Ox No. 90 2701b. 



Ox No. 94 2251b. 



Ox No. 87 ad lib. about 1451b. 



Of these four animals one ox did not show any departure from 

 the normal, and the remaining three developed typical symptoms. 



General Notes on the Experiment. 



With the exception of Ox No. 87, the feeding on the mealie 

 cobs was discontinued as soon as the first symptoms were shown. In 

 the case of Ox No. 87 the feeding was continued up to the time of 

 death. It is considered that had the feeding of cobs been discon- 

 tinued when symptoms of improvement were sJiown, death would not 

 have ensued. In the other animals under experiment no medicinal 

 treatment of any sort was administered, and the recovery in their 

 case is attributed to the fact that as soon as the first symptoms of 

 paralysis or inco-ordmation of movement were first observed the 

 animals were not given any more mealie cobs. The additional ration 

 of sug"ar-cane which was administered in their case could not be 

 supposed to have any special curative infiuence other than that 

 exercised in general by the good nursing which was accorded to 

 the cattle. The amount of cobs fed to the experimental animals was 

 considerable. In the case of Ox No. 87, it was observed that 

 although this animal consumed the smallest quantity it was followed 

 by fatal results, and that although a similar quantity of mealie cobs 



