424 ■ Journal op the Department of Agriculture. 



glandular secretion, and increases in respirations and pulse rate. 

 These symptoms were rapidly followed by in-co-ordination of move- 

 ment, lack of tone of the leg muscles, loss of appetite, and constipa- 

 tion. Recovery was noted to commence about the fifth or sixth day, 

 and from this onward slow improvement was shown. The animals on 

 being turned out to graze were kept under observation for a further 

 period, and it was noted that recovery could not be considered to be 

 complete until at least two months had elapsed from the time the 

 meal of infected heads was partaken of. Abortion did not occur. 

 One animal calved normally-three months later. 



A short description of the disease as it appears under natural 

 conditions in this country is here given, together with suggestions 

 for preventive measures to be adopted. 



Cause. — The causal agent of ergotism in South Africa has been 

 demonstrated to be C . paspali, associated with paspalum lands which 

 have been established for some years. So far, no cases of true ergotism 

 due to ingestion of grass or grain infected with C. purpurea have 

 been reported, and it is doubtful whether this latter fungus exists in 

 any part of the Union to such an extent as to produce clinical 

 symptoms in animals. 



Distribution. — The infection is not very widespread, but it may 

 be looked upon as general throughout the midland portion of Natal. 

 Outbreaks which have been reported were limited to the midlands. 

 No cases were reported from the northern portion adjacent to the 

 Drakensberg range or from the coastal belt. In the latter area, how- 

 ever, this is understood as being owing to the absence of frosts and 

 to the humid conditions which exist for the greater part of the year — 

 natural grazing is plentiful and the necessity for providing additional 

 grazing during the seasons when veld grazing is scanty is not felt. 

 Paspalum has only been cultivated to a limited extent in this area. 

 In the midlands the cultivation of paspalum had been undertaken 

 on a fairly extensive scale in former years, and in seasons which 

 favour the growth of the fungus, it is almost impossible to find an 

 area under this grass which is not grosslj^ infected. Even along the 

 roadsides, where accidentally sown plants are to be found, these are 

 almost constantly found to be infested. 



Occurrence. — The occurrence of the condition among cattle feed- 

 ing on paspalum lands varies each year, and is chiefly dependent on 

 the extent to which the grass is infected. Like most fungi, warm 

 humid conditions favour development and dissemination, and so, as 

 is to be expected, the percentage of infected paspalum heads in a 

 pasture is very much greater in seasons where a mild winter is 

 followed by frequent rains during the spring and early summer. The 

 stage of growth at which the fungus is able to set up the characteristic 

 symptoms is limited to the period when the sclerotia are ripe, which 

 coincides with the ripening of the grass seeds. During the " honey- 

 dew " period the cattle appear to be able to eat the infected grass with 

 impunity. It was noted that cattle feeding on paspalum on which 

 ripe sclerotia were present evinced a special fondness for the high 

 standing diseased heads after a meal of the lower and more succulent 

 foliage had been collected. This point has also been commented upon 

 by Brown and Ranck. Symptoms are usually developed about a week 

 after exposure in the infected pasture, and the percentage of animals 



