ILL EFFECTS OF SMUTTY CORN ON CATTLE, 81 



tied in distant pastures, and with tlie cliange of diet some recover. 

 Hens fed on tlie material lay eggs without shells. In the corn-fields 

 where the disease prevails it is not uncommon to see monkeys and par- 

 rots fall, and unable to rise again. The indigenous dogs and deer that 

 enter the corn-fields at night suffer in the same way. 



It is asserted that across the Paramos, in the colder parts of Colum- 

 bia, these accidents are not seen ; and Dr. Roulin has indeed only wit- 

 nessed them in the provinces of Neyba and Mariquita. 



Dulong* has analyzed corn smut, and although his analysis cannot at 

 the present day be considered satisfactory, it is the only one on record. 

 He found it to contain a material similar to fungine, a material allied 

 to osmazone, a nitrogenous substance, a fatty matter, a waxy matter, 

 acids, a brown coloring matter, a free organic acid, and combinations of 

 this acid with magnesia and potash; lastly, he found phosphate, muri- 

 ate, and sulphate of potash, subphosphate of lime, sal ammoniac, and 

 oxide of iron; it contained no starch. 



Anxious to try some experiments on the actions of pure smut on cattle, 

 1 employed a negro in January, 1SG9, to go into the country and col- 

 lect me a large quantity of pure smut. 



It was rather late, and the rains had washed most of it off the still 

 standing stalks; but I obtained forty-two pounds of excellent smut, free 

 from adventitious matters. On the 2Gth day of February, Mr. George 

 Reid, of Ingleside farm, near Washington, D. C, piu'chased two cows, in 

 good health, and aged respectively about seven years. One cow was fed 

 thrice daily one and one-half pound of corn-meal and three ounces of 

 smut, mixed with as much cut hay as she would eat. The second had 

 the same allowance, but wetted. 



On the 7th of March the amount of smut given in each feed was 

 increased to six ounces. The cow fed on dry food lost flesh. On the 

 loth of March the dose of smut was increased to twelve ounces three 

 times a day. The cow on the wetted food gained in condition. The 

 other one lost. In three weeks the two cows consumed the forty-two 

 pounds of smut; they had a voracious appetite the whole time, and the 

 only indication of a peculiar diet was a very black color of the excre- 

 ment, and the animal losing rather than gaining flesh, although fed 

 liberally on nutritious diet, though in a dry condition. 



On the 12th of March the temperature of both cows was tested; and 

 found 102O.2 and 102^.4 Fahr. 



No conclusions of importance can be drawn from a single experiment; 

 but it is evident that smut is not a very active poison in combination 

 with wholesome food, and especially if the animal is allowed moist food 

 and plenty of water to drink. Cattle will eat the smut greedily, and 

 possibly a morbid taste for it is acquired, as has been observed in pigs. 

 It is evident that cornstalks, when starch and other nutritive elements 



* Journal de Pharinacie, vol. xiv. 



6 



