PLANTS POISONOUS TO STOCK. 223 



who gave this permission, and who also kindly supplied the blocks, the 

 writer (Mr. Dollar) desires to express his very sincere thanks. Consider- 

 able modifications have been made, and in the case of the more important 

 poisonous plants, details of symptoms and treatment have been added. 



LIST OF PLANTS POISONOUS TO STOCK.* 



PERISPORACE^ (ROT-MOULD FAMILy). 



Aspergillus glaucus. — This is the common flocculent woolly mould 

 which sometimes develops to a dangerous extent on corn, oats, and other 

 food grains which have either been harvested before full maturity or been 

 stored in a damp place. The mouldy growth is pure white at first, but 

 changes with the ripening of the spores to gray and then green. The 

 spores are apparently the cause of the so-called enzootic cerebritis, or 

 " staggers," of horses, which, during the winter of 1898-99, was reported 

 as having caused very heavy losses in the southern portion of the United 

 States. European investigators have shown that the spores of this mould 

 will grow within the living body if they are introduced into the blood. 

 Death is probably caused by some poison which is simultaneously produced 

 with the mould in the body of the animal. 



HYPOCREACE^ (eRGOT FAMILY). 



*ClaYiceps purpurea. — This, the most common species of ergot, 

 infests various species of native and cultivated grasses. It sometimes 

 causes great losses of stock. 



POISONING BY ERGOT OF RYE : ERGOTISM. 



Causation. This form of poisoning is due to the presence of ergot in 

 grain or forage. 



Symptoms. The symptoms are seldom very marked. In mild cases 

 pregnant females may abort ; grave cases are indicated by local gangrene 

 of the mucous membrane and gangrene of the extremities, particularly 

 in poultry, in consequence of the constrictive action of the drug on the 

 peripheral blood-vessels, on the vaso-motor centres, and on unstriated 

 muscular fibres. 



Treatment. The use of chloral and morphine has been suggested in 

 this condition ; but as the lesions when discovered are established and 

 permanent, this treatment seems illusory. More is to be expected from 

 preventive measures and the avoidance of ergotised food. 



* The names of plants proved beyond doubt to be poisonous to stock are marked 

 with an asterisk. The evidence in regard to the toxic properties of others is not in 

 every case entirely convincmg, though there is good ground for strong suspicion. 



