FUNGI IMPERFECTI FUSARIUM 291 



Dr. R. A. Craig of Indiana reports as follows in regard to interesting 

 experiments made at the Indiana Station : 



In January, four sacks of spoiled, mouldy corn were gathered from a stalk field adjoin- 

 ing a field in which cattle had developed cornstalk disease. A healthy heifer weighing 

 three hundred and fifty pounds was fed four to five pounds (twelve to seventeen ears) of 

 this corn twice a day. In addition stover was fed. On the afternoon of the sixth day of 

 the test the heifer appeared weak, went down in the stall and was helped up twice in the 

 afternoon. When down she struggled some, and when helped up "shivered" as if cold. In 

 the evening she was still trembling and appeared weak. The weakness disappeared the 

 following day. A few days later a slight twitching of the body muscles was noticed. 

 The feeding test extended over a period of sixteen days. Her appetite remained good 

 throughout the test. 



Dr. Craig adds the following: 



During the fall and early winter of 1898-'99, Bitting reported losses in horses and 

 cattle, supposed to have been due to feeding on spoiled corn. By feeding corn meal that 

 was inoculated with a pure culture of a mold (Fusarium sp.) made from the spoiled 

 corn, he produced salivation and redness of the gums of the two horses used in the ex- 

 periment. Later spoiled corn was fed. On the fifth day one horse showed a slight saliva- 

 tion, colicky pains and diarrhoea. On the seventh day, noticeable incoordination in mov- 

 ing about and stupor. For two days the animal stood with the head pressed against the 

 wall. A quick recovery followed and the nervous disease from which horses were reported 

 as dying did not develop. The second horse showed nothing more than a slight irritation 

 to the mouth. 



Because of the close resemblance between toxic poisoning from sorghum 

 and the symptoms of corn stalk disease, Price deemed it advisable to examine 

 cornstalks for the substances which produce prussic acid in plants. Samples of 

 stalks from fields in which cattle had died were obtained. In these samples 

 he discovered an enzyme which had the property of decomposing a glucoside 

 (amygdalin) and thereby poison as a result of enzyme was found. However, 

 no glucoside capable of forming this poison as a result of enzyme action was 

 found. The results were not regarded as conclusive, as only a few samples 

 were examined, and the failure to discover a suitable glucoside did not prove 

 its absence in the corn plant, or in other plants in the field. 



Dr. Peters says in regard to the feeding of moldy corn to horses as 

 follows : 



Numerous reports have been received from stock owners of a disease which they call 

 cornstalk disease or spinal meningitis which affects horses in the stalks and also some 

 which have not been in the stalks. 



This disease is very rapid in its course. For this reason it is sometimes difficult 

 to see animals alive or in the beginning stages of the disease. In the later stages the 

 animals are usually in such violent excitement that the symptoms have to be studied from 

 a distance. One peculiar feature about the disease is that it comes on without warning, 

 often attacking an animal while at work. One of the first symptoms noticed is the refusal 

 of feed. Some have observed an excessive thirst and a difficulty in swallowing. The head 

 is drooped in a very peculiar manner, denoting dullness. The eyes become very dull and 

 later almost totally blind. This is usually followed by delirium and death. When a horse 

 becomes affected in the stall it sometimes presses its head against the manger or wall and 

 as this symptom increases in violence it is not uncommon to find the stall and manger 

 demolished. Another peculiarity of the disease is that just before the animal becomes 

 violent, one can cross its legs and the animal will remain in the position semi-conscious for 

 some time. 



This disease has been attributed to many causes. It is practically conceded at this 

 time that it is due to a fungus found on the food administered. Feeding experiments with 

 mouldy corn at our Station and other Stations, have proven that mouldy corn is capable of 

 producing this disease. In March, 1902, a quantity of mouldy corn, which was taken from 

 cribs of a farmer at Graf, Nebr., who had lost a number of horses with this disease, was 

 fed to four horses. These horses were fed exclusively on this corn with a small quantity of 

 good hay and on April 2 two of the horses were found to be affected, the symptoms being 



