254 FEEDS AND FEEDING 



of the cases of forage poisoning are caused by feed contaminated with 

 the bacteria which cause ptomaine poisoning in humans; i. e., Bacillus 

 botulinus. He has isolated these bacteria from samples of spoiled silage, 

 corn fodder, oat hay, wheat bran, wheat screenings, rice meal, and oats 

 which had poisoned stock. While the dangerous feed is often spoiled or 

 moldy, in some cases it is wholesome in appearance. Animals on pasture 

 which have been forced to drink stagnant surface water have been af- 

 fected with forage poisoning, doubtless due to the water having passed 

 thru moldy vegetation. Suspected samples of feed should never be 

 tasted by persons, as mere traces of the poison may prove fatal to 

 humans. 



Graham advises 40 that upon the appearance of the disease the feed 

 should be changed immediately. "In some instances the detection of 

 the feed causing the illness is accomplished with difficulty; and as a 

 precautionary measure, therefore, all feeds should be exposed to sun- 

 light and air for several hours before being fed, if new rations cannot be 

 obtained. Hay and grain may be washed with water just before they 

 are fed. This is sometimes a valuable supplement to exposure to air 

 and light, and is accomplished in practice by placing the feed upon the 

 ground, in alternate feed lots daily, after having sprinkled it with water. 

 Grains are more conveniently cleansed by being immersed in a tank of 

 water several hours and thoroly agitated before being fed. Pastures 

 are not subject to artificial treatment, but continued non-use, assisted by 

 natural influences, apparently renders them harmless in a few weeks." 



Promising results have been secured in the early stages of mild forms 

 of the disease by using a botulinus anti-toxin. 



398. Corn stalk disease. In the West at times cattle turned into stalk 

 fields during the fall and winter are killed by a mysterious disease. Ef- 

 forts to determine the cause have thus far been unsuccessful. The dis- 

 ease may be a form of forage poisoning, while some believe it is a form 

 of hemorrhagic septicaemia. Cutting the corn, shocking the fodder, 

 and feeding it after curing, is recommended as a means of avoiding the 

 trouble. 



399. Corn smut. Corn smut is generally harmless to stock, tho animals 

 eating very large amounts may be injured by it. At the Wisconsin 

 Station 41 the senior author fed two cows on corn smut mixed with wheat 

 bran, gradually increasing the amount until 32 ounces was supplied daily 

 to each cow. At this point one refused her feed, but the allowance of the 

 other was increased until 64 ounces, or 1 peck, was fed daily. This cow 

 seemed to thrive on the great quantity of smut and was growing fat, 

 when she suddenly sickened and died. In other experiments cattle have 

 been fed smut without harmful effects. 4 * 



400. Loco poisoning. Great numbers of horses, cattle, and sheep have 

 been lost on the great ranges of western America thru "loco" poisoning 



"111. Exten. Cir. 38. "Wis. Univ., Rpt. of Board of Regents, 1881. 

 tt Mich. Bui. 137; U. S. D. A., Bur. Anim. Indus., Bui. 10. 



