CORNSTALK DISEASES. 
253 
If it is a fact that the cornstalk, or any other plant, growing 
under natural conditions, is of such nature that it is a good 
wholesome plant when grown in a certain place, but a poison¬ 
ous one if grown in another, simply because that place hap¬ 
pened to contain too much of one of the natural ingredients of 
that plant, then the figures of chemical analysis are very un¬ 
reliable. 
Now, we have seen that the cornstalk may be the cause of acute 
tympanites , indigestion , gastritis and fungus poisoning , simply 
because it is often eaten in excessive quantity or in bad quality. 
Straw, hay, grain and flour, fed in the same condition, will pro¬ 
duce the same result. But, it is a fact that, while we generally 
take care of and save all other plants used for animal food, the 
cornstalk is left in the field to take care of itself, under the 
influence of all kinds of winds and weather. The dry stalks 
which stand there in defiance of all the elements of nature have 
become a mass of woody fibres good for nothing except to cause 
indigestion. 
The most tender parts, such as leaves and sideshoots, fall 
upon the ground, there to go through the process of decay, the 
ultimate process of reduction to its original state—dust. These 
rotten parts are generally eaten by the young stock, going 
through the active process of dentition, in preference to the 
other parts, which require active mastication, and the young 
animal which has eaten almost nothing but these decaying 
mouldy parts dies of fungus poisoning ; the older stock more 
frequently die from indigestion. 
Early in the fall I think there is some nutriment in the 
stalks, and there is generally some corn left in the field, and I 
believe that if cattle and horses are allowed to eat a limited 
amount at a time, they will do well on it, provided that the or¬ 
gans of digestion are in good order when this sudden change of 
diet takes place. Mild cases of fungus poisoning we frequently 
notice as toxic polyuria, caused by mouldy feed. As an accessory 
cause in the development of the diseases now spoken of, I will 
particularly mention cold . Cold acts as a debilitant if long con- 
