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PEELIMINAEY INVESTIGATION ON THE DETEEIORATION 
OF MAIZE INFECTED WITH DIPLODIA ZEAE, (Schw.) Lev. 
By Paul A. van der Bijl, M.A. 
(Communicated by Mr. I. B. Pole-Evans.) 
(Read July 15, 1914.) 
Sound maize and food products prepared from sound maize are 
recognized as most wholesome articles of food, but whether maize infected 
with this fungus is equally wholesome, or whether it can be considered 
safe for consumption is an altogether different question. 
Smith and Hedges* state that possibly corn infected with Diplodia 
may have been the cause of the death of great numbers of negroes in the 
Southern States during the years 1906-1909 from a disease known as 
pellagra, which follows the consumption of mouldy corn meal and mouldy 
hominy. 
They also consider it worthy of inquiry as to whether this fungus 
may not be the cause of the so-called " corn-stalk " disease prevalent 
among cattle in the Western States. 
Evidence has also been brought by various farmers of the Province of 
Natal, who state that not only does this disease cause severe loss to their 
crops, but also produces paralysis and death amongst stock fed on infected 
cobs, especially if the cobs were damp and not properly dried out. Sheep 
especially have been reported very susceptible. 
In August, 1912, Government Veterinary Surgeon Webb, stationed at 
Mooi Eiver, Natal, submitted specimens showing this disease, and wrote : 
**I am also sending you some, specimens of mealies taken from fields in 
which cattle have become sick, showing symptoms of intoxication and 
paralysis due, I believe, to poisoning with the Fungi on the mealies." 
Mr. I. B. Pole-Evans (Chief, Division of Botany, Union Department 
of Agriculture), visited Natal in October, 1912, and referring to this 
* E. F. Smith and F. Hedges, " Diplodia Disease of Maize (Suspected cause of 
Pellagra)," Science N.S. vol. xxx., No. 758, pp. 60-61. 
