DISEASES OF SHEEP 619 



tions indicate that this is always dangerous for sheep if cut at a time 

 when the seeds are retained in the hay. Since the limit of the period 

 during which lupines are not poisonous can not be determined for 

 the present with any certainty, it seems advisable to abandon entirely 

 the use of lupine hay for sheep, except after a preliminary test in 

 feeding large quantities of the hay to one or two sheep. If it should 

 prove to be nonpoisonous, it may then, of course, be fed with safety. 

 The poisonous principle in all plants which have been fully 

 investigated varies in quantity according to the stage of growth of 

 the plant, and is located more abundantly in one part of the plant 

 than in another. These facts seem to be strikingly true of lupine, 

 since, as already indicated, the plants are sometimes eaten in large 

 quantities with impunity, while at other times the plants cause 

 extensive losses, especially among sheep. The evidence thus far col- 

 lected regarding this matter indicates that the seeds are the most 

 poisonous part of the plant. 



LESS IMPORTANT POISONOUS PLANTS AND SUSPECTED PLANTS. 



Ergot. Besides the poisonous plants of more importance, which 

 have already been discussed, there are a number of other species 

 which are known to be poisonous or which are suspected of being 

 poisonous by stockmen. Perhaps especial mention should be made 

 of ergot on account of the great prevalence of this parasitic fungus 

 on a considerable variety of grasses in Montana. Ergot is most 

 abundant on wild-rye grass and bluejoint. The form in which this 

 fungus is most readily seen is that of a black, straight, or slightly 

 curved spur, from one-fourth to one-half inch in length from the 

 fruiting head of the infested grass. Bluejoint and wild-rye grass are 

 extensively cut for hay, and when badly infested with ergot are 

 exceedingly dangerous fodder. In addition to the ordinary form of 

 ergotism, which is well known to cattle raisers, the following case 

 was apparently due to extensive eating of ergot, in which the symp- 

 toms were quite unusual. In 6 horses which had been feeding for 

 several weeks on infested bluejoint hay symptoms of paralysis devel- 

 oped, beginning first with the muscles of the throat and gradually 

 extending over the whole body. An attempt was made to counteract 

 these symptoms by alcoholic stimulants and hypodermic injections 

 of strychnine, with success in 2 cases only. The other horses died 

 of general paralysis within from six to eight hours. A number of 

 cases of the ordinary form of ergotism were observed in Montana, 

 and, as attention has already been called in Iowa to the constitutional 

 effects of continued eating of ergot by domestic animals, it seems 

 highly probable that the great prevalence of ergot in Montana may 

 be the cause of many unexplained cases of plant poisoning in the 

 State. 



It was learned in conversation with stockmen during the season 

 of 1900 that the ergot spurs are quite generally considered as being 

 the seeds of the grasses which they infest. The difference between 

 ergot spurs and seeds of grasses may be easily learned and should be 

 known by all persons who handle stock. 



