ERGOT 601 



womb is probably to be ascribed to stimulation of the 

 uterine unstriated muscle, and the spinal lumbar centres 

 controlling this organ. Ergot is the oxytocic in most com- 

 mon use. The secretion of urine, sweat, saliva and milk is 

 lessened by ergot, owing to general vascular contraction. 



Administration. — The fluid extract is generally given by 

 the mouth. Some proprietary preparations are made for 

 subcutaneous use. Bonjean's ergotin, or the official extract, 

 are employed hypodermatically. 



9 



Extr. Ergotae gr.xl. 



Alcohol. 



Glycerini. 



Aq. dest aa3i. 



M. 



Sig. Give one-half subcutaneously to a horse ; 10 to 15 M. to dogs. 



Injections should be made deeply into the muscular 

 tissue to avoid abscess. Ergot should be repeated frequently 

 to arrest haemorrhage. 



Toxicology. — Enormous single doses are required to 

 poison animals or man. When as much as two drachms of 

 ergot to the pound, live weight, are given to dogs, death is not 

 constant. Three ounces, however, have proved fatal to small 

 dogs. Acute poisoning is characterized by vomiting (in dogs), 

 profuse salivation, dilation of the pupils, rapid breathing, 

 and frequent pulse. The animal cries out, has convulsive 

 twitchings, staggering gait, paraplegia, intense thirst, and 

 coma, terminating in death. Horses, cattle, and sheep are 

 unaffected by any ordinary quantity of the drug. 



- Chronic poisoning or ergotism rarely occurs in animals 

 owing to continuous ingestion of ergotized grains. It is 

 characterized by gastro-intestinal indigestion, with nausea, 

 vomiting, colic, diarrhoea or constipation, and abortion 

 ensues in pregnant animals. In addition to gastro-intestinal 

 irritation the symptoms naturally assume two forms: 1, 

 the gangrenous form ; 2, the spasmodic form. In the 

 first variety of ergotism there are coldness and anaesthesia 



