66 Bulletin No. 207. 



In order that further studies might be conducted, portions of 

 the unthreshed straw and grain were preserved in two wooden 

 barrels of a capacity of 50 gallons each. These barrels of 

 forage were placed in a small frame building and held at 

 prevailing temperature. The oats in the barrel remained 

 undisturbed from March 10th, 1915, until January 12th, 1917, 

 or approximately 22 months. The lid was then removed from 

 one barrel and hydrant water of the supply furnished the 

 live stock on the Experiment Station farm was added. The 

 forage was completely submerged in the barrel by weights. 



Etiologic Factor Water-Soluble. 



Beginning January 12th, 1917, a healthy bay mare, No. 

 91, weighing 950 pounds, medium flesh, approximately 14 years 

 of age, was freely allowed water from the barrel of oat hay, 

 and wholesome feed consisting of mixed clover and timothy 

 hay, ear corn and shelled oats. Portions of the wholesome 

 feed were also given a control mule receiving wholesome water. 

 On January 15th horse No. 91 was depressed and did not eat 

 the daily ration of grain and hay and on the following morn- 

 ing at 7 a. m. was reported dead. The control mule remained 

 healthy. 



Autopsy : At 8 a. m. January 16th the carcass of horse 

 No. 91 was removed to the operating room for gross examina- 

 tion. The arrangement of the bedding in the stall indicated 

 that the animal had moved the feet in a running motion in 

 decumbency. Death had evidently occurred early in the night, 

 the abdomen was distended with gas, the musculature was 

 cool and rigor was pronounced. The skin over the right orbit 

 was abraded and bruised ; about the ankles and pasterns were 

 numerous calk wounds inflicted in decumbency. The lips were 

 soiled and bruised. The conjunctiva was injected. Subcu- 

 taneous and muscular tissue other than local areas affected 

 by decumbency appeared normal. The external nostrils were 

 dilated and smeared with mucus, and in the lower portion 

 of the nasal cavity numerous particles of dirt and small pieces 

 of straw were found. 



