114 USTILAGO MAIDIS. 



Ustilago Maidis is not only destructive to corn, but dangerous 

 to the animals that live on the corn so affected. The death of 

 animals has been traced directly to corn stalks badly affected with 

 smut, and it is said that mules, fed upon corn thus diseased, lose 

 their hoofs. Some of the severe epidemics, of Europe and Asia 

 have been charged directly to the use of corn affected with Ustil- 

 ago. One species of ergot attacks and lives upon caterpillars until 

 they are suffocated to death, and then they are gathered by the 

 Chinese, who grind up the caterpillars, ergot and all, and deal it 

 out as a popular medicine. 



