CORN-STALK DISEASE. 
673 
Fifth, that the supply of salt and water exerts no influence 
as a preventive, for in the majority of cases in this State, 
the farmers have good water supply and usually allow the 
stock all the salt it will eat. 
Sixth, that the disease does not often occur during the 
first five or six days after the cattle have been turned into the 
held, as one would expect was it simple impaction. 
It seems to me that in the face of the above facts in the 
case one should hesitate a long time before they could 
be reconciled to the old “ one hour a day in the stalk-held, 
with plenty of salt and water ” theory of impaction, as being 
the sole cause of this disease. 
That the theory is new and that much remains to be 
investigated or rather proven by investigation is evident to 
all, yet I trust that the stone has been started rolling and 
that it will gather the moss of knowledge of the subject very 
rapidly. 
Dr. Billings was uncertain about the ear of the corn being 
affected, but later Prof. Burrill demonstrated that it is often 
affected, and when affected it has a mildewed or mouldy ap¬ 
pearance, and I am of the opinion that it is the greatest source 
of the disease, for usually the mouldy corn is left in the field 
by the gatherer, and when stock is first turned into a field 
they do not eat much of the fodder, but search out and 
gather up most of the grain, including the mouldy ears 
left by the gleaner, thus taking into the system such quan- • 
tities of the germ as to result in speedy and certain death. 
Treatment medicinally is nearly always useless, as the 
animal is too seriously affected when first seen, yet much may 
be accomplished by preventive measures, such as follows: 
First, gather all mouldy grain ; allow the stock to run in the 
field but a short time each day, as the system may be strong 
enough to throw of the effects of the germ when introduced 
into it in small quantities. Should any present the symptoms 
of the disease, remove all the stock from the affected field. 
Observe all good hygenic rules. Ounce doses of soda hypo¬ 
sulphite three times a day might fortify the system so that it 
vyould throw off the germs. 
