CHRONIC POISONING 623 



two milk cows had between them 9 Ibs. daily, with no 

 further evil effect than that the butter was badly tasted. 

 Twenty sheep amongst them ate daily for four weeks 9 Ibs. 

 without injury (Phoebus and Pereira). Dogs receiving six 

 to twelve drachms suffered from vomiting, tenesmus, pros- 

 tration of muscular power, enfeebled pulse, convulsive 

 twitchings, spasms, and coma (Tabourin). Three ounces 

 proved fatal to a terrier bitch in twenty hours. 



Chronic poisoning occurs especially in patients placed in 

 unfavourable sanitary surroundings. Wright found that 

 ergot, given for several weeks to dogs and rabbits, caused 

 nausea, impaired appetite, a weak, irregular pulse, soon 

 becoming intermittent, diarrhoea ; excessive fcetor of the 

 secretions and excretions, paralysis, particularly of the hind 

 extremities, enlargement of the liver, contraction of the 

 spleen, impairment of the special senses, wasting, and general 

 debility. Gangrene of the extremities is not, however, 

 produced so readily as in man. Dogs, cats, and rabbits 

 showed great aversion to the drug, even when it was mixed 

 with sound grain, or considerably diluted with water ; 

 and, although pressed by hunger, would scarcely eat it 

 of their own accord. Ergot of maize, according to Roulin, 

 is common in Columbia, and its continued use is stated 

 to cause shedding of the hair, and even of the teeth, both 

 of man and beast. Mules freely fed on it lose their hoofs, 

 and fowls lay eggs without shells. 



Abortion attributed to ergoted grasses occurs amongst 



cows, ewes, and deer in many grass districts of England and 



Ireland, especially in wet seasons. The hay from pastures 



'subject to ergot is seldom, however, so injurious as the 



grass, for it is generally cut before the fungus is matured. 



iCows abort from this cause more frequently than ewes or 



< deer ; for they are more prone to eat the coarser, longer 



ergoted grasses, and, moreover, are often pregnant in the 



I later months of summer, when ergot occurs. Experi- 



1 mentally, abortion has been produced in guinea-pigs, sows, 



[bitches, cats, cows, and ewes, rabbits, and poultry (Stille"). 



; The negative results obtained by some experimenters may 



I be explained by their having used ergot which had been too 



long kept. 



