CHAPTER XXVII. 



ERGOT. 



Glaviceps purpurea, Tul. 



THE terrible effects of ergotised grass on animals that have 

 partaken of it are so serious and so well known that a 

 clear knowledge of the nature of ergot should be possessed 

 by all persons interested in agriculture. 



Ergot has a powerful and immediate effect, and especially 

 so when quite fresh, in exciting muscular contraction in 

 certain parts of animals, notably the uterus. The same 

 contracting power of ergot is no doubt the primary cause 

 of the well-known gangrenous diseases always popularly 

 associated with this substance. Ergot, by contracting the 

 muscles, stops the flow of blood to the extremities, and 

 these extremities, unsupplied with fresh blood, sometimes 

 rot and drop off. 



The ergot produced by rye, Secale cereale, L., is one of 

 the largest, best known, and probably the most potent, 

 and this is the substance invariably used in medicine. 

 Ergot is commonly termed ergot of rye, but the fungus 

 growth is very common on other cereals and 011 many grasses. 

 Amongst others it has been recorded in Britain as parasitic 

 upon the following plants : Mat grass, Nardus stricta, L. ; 

 catstail-grass, Phleum pratense, L. ; foxtail grass, Alopecurus 

 pratensis, L. ; reed canary-grass, Phalaris arundinacea, L. ; 

 vernal grass, Anthoxanthum odoratum, L. ; waved hair- 

 grass, Aira flexuosa, L. ; turfy hair-grass, Aim ccespitosa, L. ; 

 oat-grass, Arrhenatherum avenaceum, Beauv. ; meadow soft- 

 grass, Holcus lanatus, L. ; creeping soft-grass, Holcus moil-is, 

 L. ; cocksfoot grass, Dactylis glomerata, L. ; smooth meadow- 



