Cornstalk Disease 413 



Cornstalk disease is most common in years when 

 there is a heavy growth of cornstalks, and after the 

 stalks are thoroughly dried. Attacks also appear to be 

 associated with cold, wet storms. Younger cattle seem 

 to be more susceptible than older ones, and the disease 

 is most frequent when the cattle are first turned into 

 the fields, or changed from one field to another. 



The disease comes on suddenly, with few premoni- 

 tory signs. The first symptom usually noticed is that 

 the animal stands apart from its fellows and appears to 

 be "humped up." If made to move, it does so reluctantly 

 with a peculiar, "wabbling" gait. There is switching 

 of the tail and kicking toward the belly. There are 

 usually indications of delirium, and, as the disease pro- 

 gresses, these become more marked and associated with 

 signs of severe pain, such as bellowing and moaning. 

 Death usually follows within twenty -four hours. The 

 real cause of the disease is not definitely known, but is 

 probably due either to acute indigestion, as a result of 

 too much coarse, indigestible food, or poisoning by 

 some substance in the stalks. It is not caused, as often 

 supposed, by corn -smut, or by bacteria. There is a 

 popular belief that it is caused by impaction, but this 

 is only a symptom of the disease. 



There is no medicinal treatment that seems to be of 

 any benefit, but the following preventive precautions 

 will greatly reduce the losses, if carefully followed: 

 Cattle should be well fed and watered before turning 

 into the fields, and some laxative food, such as alfalfa 

 or millet, fed every day. They should be turned on 

 the stalks gradually, beginning with a half hour the first 



