224 



POISONING. 



USTILAGINACE^ (SMUT FAMILY). J 



j 



Ustilago maydis. — The black powdery fungus known as corn smut is l 

 common throughout the corn-producing districts of the central United j 

 States, and is occasionally reported as being fatal to stock. Experiments j 

 made in Wisconsin and elsewhere show that it is not a very active poison i 

 when eaten in moderate quantity. When given in gradually increasing 

 amounts up to 2 lbs., no effect was noted, but 4 lbs. on each of two 

 successive days caused the sudden death of one cow. Since corn smut 



Fig. 74. — Fly amanita {Amanita muscaria). a, Mature plant ; h, top view of cap 

 showing corky patches^both one-half natural size. 



has been shown to be less fatal when wet, it seems probable that its 

 physical and not its chemical character may be responsible for the death 

 of cattle which have eaten it in considerable quantity. 



POISONING BY SMUT OF BARLEY. 



Causes. The presence of smut in straw, in millers' grains, or in 

 damaged kiln-dried grains which have fraudulently been added to grain 



