270 WESTERN GRAZING GROUNDS AND FOREST RANGES 



The matter is now undergoing a careful investigation 

 at the hands of competent men, with a view to determin- 

 ing just what causes the trouble known as pingue, and 

 whether or not it is due to the supposed presence of rub- 

 ber. There is great doubt as to the entire question apart 

 from the fact that many sheep die of the disease known 

 as pingue. But that it is due to the rubber in the plant 

 is believed at present to be very doubtful. 



The pingue plant may be easily recognized in the 

 spring by its black stems with small white seed heads 

 at the ends. The green leaves show close down to the 

 ground at the roots of the tufts and the whole area cov- 

 ered by the plants resembles a burned-over spot, on the 

 range. 



For symptoms and remedies for pingue see page 280. 



Ergot (Claviceps purpurea). This is a parasitic fun- 

 gus which is found principally upon the heads of wild 

 rye (Elymus condensatus) and bluestem grass (Agropy- 

 ron Smithii). These two plants are found practically 

 all over the western range country. The fungus which 

 does the injury to animals is a small black spur-like 

 growth between a quarter and a half inch in length which 

 is attached to the seed hdads of these grasses. The fun- 

 gus growth contains the ergot and is eaten with the 

 grass. Many stockmen believe the fungus to be part of 

 the seed head of the plants. The loss of stock from eat- 

 ing the growing plants appears to be slight, the injurious 

 effects being mostly confined to hay-feeding, when it is 

 eaten with the seed heads and not noticed by the 

 animals. 



The losses are mainly confined to horses, although 

 cases of death in both cattle and sheep have been known. 

 Ergot-poisoning is deadly in its effects, acts quickly and 



