598 VEGETABLE DRUGS 



Habitat. — Caucasian Mountains ; cultivated in Califor- 

 nia, U. S. 



Description. — A coarse, greenish-yellow, pungent powder. 

 Pyrethrum is the best parasiticide for fleas (pulicidse). It is 

 used more frequently to kill these parasites on cats and dogs. 

 Pyrethrum is simply dusted over the whole body or is 

 applied in the form of a tincture (1-4), diluted with 10 parts 

 of water. 



The application of Dalmatian insect powder to kittens 

 and puppies, or to dogs and cats in enfeebled condition, may 

 be attended with danger unless the powder is brushed off 

 within 10 or 15 minutes after its use. Deaths have occurred 

 in these animals following its friee and careless employment. 



SECTION XV. — VEGETABLE DEUGS STIMULAT- 

 ING UNSTRIATED MUSCLE, PAETICULAELY 

 THAT OF THE UTEEUS. 



Ergota. Ergot. (U. S. k B. P.) 



Synonym. — Ergot of rye, spurred rye, E.; ergot, ergot de 

 seigle, ergot de ble, ble cornu, Fr.; mutterkorn, kornmutter, 

 zapfenkorn, G. 



The sclerotium of Claviceps purpurea (Fries) Tulasne 

 (Class Fungi), replacing the grain of rye, Secale cereale 

 Linne (nat. ord. Gramiueae). 



Habitat. — Ergot is obtained mainly from Spain and 

 Eussia. 



Description. — Somewhat fusiform, obtusely triangular, 

 usually curved, about 2 or 3 Cm. long and 3 Mm. thick ; 

 three-furrowed, obtuse at both ends, purplish- black, inter- 

 nally whitish with some purplish striae, breaking with a short 

 fracture; odor peculiar, heavy; taste oily and disagreeable. 



Constituents. — It is doubtful whether the principles so 

 far discovered wholly represent the activity of ergot. The 

 following are the, more important constituents: 1, cornntine, 



