356 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



corn-stalks in the rennet. I once lost a fine heifer, which showed 

 upon dissection, cut straw in the snJall intestines. 



Dr. W. then proceeded to illustrate upon the blackboard the 

 form and connection of the different receptacles of food in its pas- 

 sage through the stomach and intestines, and how it may be car- 

 ried through undigested, as it naturally will be when the propor- 

 tion of more woody fiber is too great for the nutritious matter. 

 Although cutting or chaflBing woody fibre may enable animals to 

 eat it, it does not make it nutritious, and however necessary a 

 small amount may be to mix with food, it may be given in too 

 large quantities. He thought some of the physiological studies 

 connected with this subject are very curious, as well as useful. 



He illustrated a case of a bullock that had swallowed a table- 

 fork, the tines of which came out through the side and remained 

 fast, the handle having become encased with a bony substance 

 where it was fixed in the ribs. This was one item of proof that 

 cattle will swallow substances that have no value for food, for 

 instance, the dry butts of cornstalks and corncobs. 



Solon Robinson — I only wish to enter my protest against all 

 expenditure of money for mills to grind cobs, and all time to con- 

 vert them into meal, as worse than useless. The only value of 

 cobs is for fuel. They are not even good for manure until burnt, 

 and for food are no better than saw-dust, or any other woody fibre 

 ground fine. It is well enough where straw or hay cannot be had 

 to feedwdth the corn, to grind cobs; but as a general rule it wont 

 pay, because they are not nutritious, and only serve to distend the 

 stomach, and if crowded upon it by the anxiety of the beast to 

 get the little meal of the grain with which the cobs are mixed, 

 too much of the cob portion may be eaten, and the health of the 

 animal injured. 



Prof. Nash — I wish Dr. Waterbury would explain what he con- 

 siders woody fibre, and its effects upon the animal ; and of what 

 value is the woody fibre, of straw ; and whether he would prefer 

 to separate the useless from the valuable portion. 



Dr. Waterbury — I do not think it would be good policy to ex- 

 clude all woody fibre. In the butts of stalks and in cobs, there is 

 too much woody fibre, and all animals will reject them unless 



