398 THE DISEASES AND DISORDERS OP THE OX. 



be thus influenced, we must emphatically state that this poison 

 is not in all instances, at any rate, the actual cause of the out- 

 break and of its continuance. 



In order to exterminate the fungus in pastures, our meadow 

 grass should be cut in full bloom, before the ergot has time to 

 reach maturity. The grass is only attacked at full bloom, and 

 if cut then, before the grass seeds ripen, the fungus, which 

 requires a month or so to mature itself, will be prevented from 

 developing further and producing spores. Some will agree with 

 Mr. John Walker's views on this question, and with him will 

 think that at the same time the water grasses which grow on the 

 banks of rivers and in the ditches, ponds, and along the hedges, 

 should be cut down. 



Mr. Walker advises that in old pasture fields the grass be 

 grazed down pretty bare in the damp localities where we might 

 expect ergot would find a suitable habitat, and that old coarse 

 grasses in rich feeding pastures should be cut down in the early 

 part of July. Such coarse grasses are very often infested with 

 ergot, as they are not eaten down by the animals. By cutting 

 them in July, the ergot is prevented from arriving at maturity, 

 and the pasture itself is improved. A salt dressing is also 

 recommended on tliese parts of the pasture. It is recorded that 

 a Shropshire breeder of cattle lost £1,200 in three years from 

 the grasses in his pastures becoming ergotised. We do know 

 that other diseases are liable to be induced in animals by eating 

 ergotised grasses. The disease termed grass-staggers is some- 

 times produced in horses by feeding on rye grass at a particular 

 stage of its growth. This disease must not be confounded with 

 stomach staggers, a condition caused by acute indigestion. 



We must now speak briefly of the mineral poisons of the ox, 

 in this connection mentioning especially arsenic and lead. The 

 ox is sometimes the victim of arsenical poisoning. In some 

 exceptional instances, when arsenical preparations are used for 

 dressing the skin for vermin, a quantity of the poison becomes 

 absorbed, and sets up mischief, manifested by the pulse becoming 

 feeble and rapid, and the breathing much accelerated. There is 

 violent action of the bowels, and blood-stained excreta are often 

 voided, if much arsenic has been absorbed. In other instances 

 arsenic may be taken by the ox accidentally by the mouth. 



In one instance, under our notice, on April 19th, a few 



