30 PASTORAL AND AGRICULTURAL BOTANY 



of the grain seed and the removal of all ergoted masses, when detected 

 in the fields. 



A closely related species, Claviceps microcephala, was submitted to 

 the writer by the late Dr. Leonard Pearson on red-top hay in 1902, which 

 had been responsible for gangrenous affection of a herd of cattle at Scran- 

 ton, Pennsylvania. Claviceps paspali, found on grains of P asp alum in 



PIG. 8. Calf No. 2. This picture shows animal in stage of excitement during 

 which it cannot remain on its feet. Note peculiar expression of eyes, also the chin 

 resting on the ground to help maintain position. All that was necessary to cause the 

 animal to assume this position was to clap the hands and jump toward it. The nervous 

 paroxysm would immediately come on and last one or two minutes. (After Brown, 

 H. B. and Ranfk, E. M.: Forage poisoning due to Claviceps Paspali on Paspalum. 

 Technical Bulletin No. 6, Mississippi Agricultural Experiment Station, 1915, p. 22.) 



Maryland on P. lave, according to J. B. S. Norton, is responsible for the 

 poisoning of cattle in Maryland and Mississippi (Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10). 



Symptoms. The detailed symptoms, as gathered from various sources, 

 are the following: Symptoms referable to the digestive tract such as 

 nausea vomiting, colic, diarrhoea or constipation occur in both the nervous 

 (spasmodic) and gangrenous forms of ergotism. Pregnant animals very 

 frequently abort. In the spasmodic form of the disease, there is an over 



