CONTAGIOUS DISEASES OF DOMESTICATED ANIMALS. 51 



meuts on solipeds with ergot of rye. The former adiuiuistered three ami (nic-half kil- 

 ograms (7.7 pounds) of ^this substance to a horse in the space of 24 days; ho ob- 

 served some nervous phenomena and a great depression Of the circulation, liut no ap- 

 pearance of gangrene. The latter gave ergot of rye to a mule, aifected with chronic 

 coryza, for six days in the dose of one to two ounces a day. There was slowing of the 

 circulation, decreased temperature of the body, difficulty of respiration, loss of appe- 

 tite and strength, general depression, muscular trembling, slight swelling of the knees 

 toward the end, &c. The sultject was destroyed. The dischage from the nose had 

 disappeared. 



2. Large ruminants. — Poisoning of large ruminants by ergot is more comumn than 

 that of solipeds because these animals receive quite often, as a supplementary ra- 

 tion, the rejected grains coming from the thrasher or from screeuiug, which always 

 contain more or less ergot of rye and of other grains. With the large ruminuuts the 

 convulsive phenomena are not seen or are not very apparent; but the depressive ef- 

 fects on the circulatory system are, on the con trary, very marked. Besides, the 

 health is maintained without serious disturbance during weeks and even months if 

 the ergot is taken with the food. Only the extremities lose little by little their nat- 

 ural warmth, as is noticed with the ears, the tail, the lower part of the limbs, «&c. 

 The digital region, and sometimes even the metacarpal and metdltarsal regions, as M. 

 Decoste has observed, are smitten with dry gangrene. In this case, the parts lose 

 their warmth, their sensibility, become hardeued and mummified, and soon separate 

 without pain from the parts which have still remained living. 



3. Small ruminants. — It is known that the sheep may , like other animals, feel the noxi- 

 ous influence of ergot; but science is wanting in precise documents concernino- this 

 ruminant and the goat. 



4. rigs. — It follows from some experiments made on these animals by Tessier, that 

 ergot of rye poisons them after a greater or less time according to their force of resist- 

 ance. There is seen in the first place vertigo, unsteadiness in standing, a totteri no- 

 walk, moaning, swelling of the eyes, &c. ; then the ears, the tail, the lower part of 

 the limbs, lose their warmth and vitality ; soou appear livid spots, which afterward 

 become black and gangrenous, and are the beginning point for the seiJaration of the 

 mortified from the living parts. 



5. Dogs.—M.. Dieu has given ergot of rye to dogs in the dose of 15 grams (half an 

 ounce) a day. The animals were soou taken with nausea, bloody diarrhea, a nasal 

 discharge also colored with blood, depression, weakness, and soou drop into a fri'>^ht- 

 fiil marasmus. The experiments not having been pressed to the end, the phenomena 

 «f dry gangrene could not be observed. 



6. Folds. — These little animals are most exposed to the poisoning under cousidera- 

 tion, because they often receive for nourishment the residue from cleaning i>-rain 

 which always contains more or less ergot. The first signs of thi.s poisoniu"- are loss 

 of liveliness, indifference to surroundings, ami great dullness; then there is verfii'o 

 drooping of the wings, &c. ; finally appear more characteristic signs — a bloodv dis- 

 charge from the nostrils is seeu ; the Crest becomes black, shrunken, and luummilied ; 

 the beak dries and is detached ; the same course is soon followed by the tongue; the 

 feathers lose their luster and fall out. Death results soon after these symptoms are 

 seen. 



To recapitulate, the most ordinary sigus of ergotism with the various animals are 

 as follows: Dulness, fixed expression, vertigo, dilated pupils, intoxication, coma ; 

 in tlie begiuuinguiuscular tremblings, then convulsive shocks, tetanic attacks, par- 

 ticularly in the posterior members whicli afterward become weak and j)araly:':ed, un- 

 steady position while standing, slow and ditticult walk, »fec. ; general weakness, pro- 

 gressive emaciation ; pulse slow and weak, skin cold ; hair dull, limbs, ears, horns 

 and tail lose their natural warmth ; sero-mucous and sometimes bloody discli;ir"'e 

 from the nostrils, cold swelling of the limits; black spots, livid patches, gangrenous 

 sores; dry gangrene of the crest, of the beak and of tli(* tongiu' of birds, and of the 



