diseases of the digestive organs.

16 DISEASES OF CATTLE.nutritive qualities, and animals which are fed on such corn lose weso it appears also to interfere with assimilation. In some instances theindigestion which smutty corn produces terminates in inflammation otthe fourth stomach and portions of the intestinal canal. In whatis termed "cornstalk disease," indigestion followed by delirium andcoma is produced in cattle by feeding them on corn which is supposedby some writers to be infested by a minute parasitic fungus. Theseliving organisms are found on the lower leaves of the corn, which, wheninvaded by those parasites, has a dwarfed appearance. The diseasedleaves become yellowish-green, then yellow, and then wither away.Upon closer examination it will usually be seen that there are certainspots, more especially about the base of the leaf, which is closelywrapped around the stalk, having a different discoloration. These arebrown, watery-looking objects at first; then darker, and finallydead.Occasionally there are livid red spots and patches in the same situation.These specially affected spots vary in size from mere points tothose of several inches across, often longer, in the direction of theveins of the leaf or leaf sheath (Burrill). Whenever this disease appearsin a cornfield it is advised that every stalk and leaf in the fieldshould be burned, and that the fieldbe seeded down to grass. Thewriter has observed during some years, and usually after a spell of dry,warm weather, that cattle grazing on pastures usually considered assound and healthy have become affected with indigestion, followed bydelirium and coma, but he has been unable to satisfy himself as to thecausation of such outbreaks of disease. The explanation of such factsremains a matter of future investigation. Grass growing on wet,marshy land is favorable to the production of dysentery, and we havesometimes seen animals die suddenly while grazing on such pastures,and have traced such deaths to a form of anthrax introduced throughthe digestive system. Frozen turnips and potatoes produce very dangerousattacks of indigestion when eaten by cattle, and grass which iswet by dew or rain, or covered with hoarfrost, should also be regardedas dangerous. The sudden chilling of the stomachs when a quantityof such food is eaten arrests digestion and will also occasion cramp ofthe stomach and bowels.Causes.—In tracing out the causation of disease we findin not a fewinstances that excess is the disturbing element, instead of quality. Forexample, when cattle are turned into a new and rather luxuriant pasturesevere attacks of indigestion may result from their eating toogreedily, and it is well, under such circumstances, to allow them in suchpastures for only a comparatively short time each day, until theybecome accustomed to their richer and more tempting herbage. Thesame idea may be applied to different kinds of food which, thoughwholesome when partaken of moderately, become dangerous when usedto excess.The manner of eating may also produce indigestion, as food hastilyeaten and consequently imperfectly masticated is not properly prepared