26 HAY AND FODDER. 



hay. It was further found that the hay itself, or rather 

 the water in which it had been steeped, was incapable of 

 producing forage poisoning in animals protected by the 

 B. botulinus antitoxic serum. Samples of food which had 

 produced forage poisoning in two other widely separated 

 parts of the country were found to contain the same 

 bacillus. It has thus been proved that one cause of forage 

 poisoning is a bacillus, and that this bacillus, if not B. 

 botulinus, resembles it so closely that morphological in- 

 vestigation has thus far disclosed no differential charac- 

 istics. Although the investigators hardly feel yet in a 

 position to state that it is the only cause, the results are 

 most promising and would appear to indicate the final 

 solution of this perplexing problem. 



The first symptom noticed is usually weakness and stag- 

 gering, with a tendency to stumble over ordinary low ob- 

 jects. The muscles of the tongue and throat 

 become paralysed, and saliva drips from the 

 mouth owing to difficulty in swallowing. The animal 

 may become violent, rushing about, usually in a circle, 

 and crashing into objects that come in his way. He soon 

 becomes stupid and sleepy, and gradually loses control 

 of his muscles, leaning against the stall or standing with 

 feet spread apart. Paralysis increases, and after some 

 time he is unable to stand. Bladder and bowels become 

 partly paralysed and do not function unless artificially 

 stimulated. The animal may live from one to two weeks, 

 but in some cases death may take place within a day or 

 so from the time symptoms become noticeable. Dr. Mc- 

 Gilvray even states that animals may drop dead when 

 taken from the harness, without showing any previous 

 symptoms. 



