180 



GRASSES OF IOWA. 



barley, Hordeum jubatum. Dr. S. H. Johnson,* of Carroll, 

 states in the Carroll Herald, that this grass, when found in hay 

 and allowed to ripen, if in any quantity, is very injurious to 

 horses * mouths. He says: ' 'The small awns seem to work in and 

 cause deep ulcerating sores, which form under the tongue and 

 lips. The writer has seen a large number affected and made a 

 careful examination, and found them deep in the flesh, where 

 they had remained for three months or more. I have seen lips 

 eaten completely through and tongues eaten almost off by the 

 grass. As to cattle, I have seen some affected, but not to any 

 extent, because the mucous membranes are much thicker. The 

 sooner the grass is eradicated the better. " 



Professor Nelson, f who has carefully studied this question, 

 says on the injury to stock: "The awned heads, when taken 

 into the mouth, break up into numerous sections, scatter about 

 within the mouth and everywhere adhere to the mucus mem- 

 brane, which soon becomes pierced with the long, stiff awns. 

 As the animal continues to feei more awns are added, and 

 those already present are pushed deeper into the flesh. Inflam- 

 mation soon results and leaves the gums of the animal in a con- 

 dition to be more easily penetrated. The awns are particularly 

 liable to be pushed down and alongside and between the teeth. 

 As the swelling and festering progresses the awns are packed 

 in tighter and pushed deeper and cause suppuration of the gums 

 as well as ulceration of the jaw bones and the teeth. Through 

 the absorption of the ulcerated sockets and roots the teeth 



Fig. 75 B. Oross-sectlon of normal Jawbone; a. t-Aug of tooth; b, marrow. B— 

 Oross-sectlon ulcerated and enlarged jawbone; c, decayed fang of loosened tooth; d, 

 cavity In enlarged jaw, the embedded awns removed. 



♦Carroll Herald. 1895: 28 j. 



+Squlrrel-tall Grass. Bull. Wyoming Agrl. Exp. Sta. 



19. 



