6 



Tall oat grass (Arrhenatherum elatius [L.J Beauv.) ; 

 Orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata L.) ; 

 Quaking grass (Briza media L.) ; 

 Canadian blue grass (Poa compressa L.) ; 

 Kentucky blue grass (Poa pr'atensis L.) ; 

 Meadow fescue (Festuca elatior L.) ; 

 Reed fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) ; 

 Barren brome grass (Bromus sterilis L.) j 1 



He has also shown that ergots grown on any of these grasses which 

 have been infected by ergot of rye are in their turn capable of infecting 

 rye and barley. This is a very important point for the agriculturist. For 

 instance, if holy grass infected with ergot is left to mature, the ergots will 

 drop to the ground and repeat their work in the spring. There will then 

 be still fresh honeydew on the holy grass (which is early blooming) when 

 the first heads of rye or barley come into bloom. The rye and barley in;i\ 

 then be contaminated, and from them the honeydew will be borne to 

 later-blooming fodder grasses, and so on through a continuous chain of 

 harm. 



POISONOUS PROPERTIES: The most important of the many constitu- 

 ents lately isolated from ergot is the very highly potent alkaloid ergotoxim . 

 which with other harmful principles causes a disease known as ergotism. 



ANIMALS AFFECTED: Ergot is poisonous to all domestic animals. 

 Ewart states that "a comparatively small number of fresh ergot grains 

 suffice to injure or kill a horse, cow, or sheep." It is a well-known cause 

 of abortion. 



HUMAN POISONING: Human beings have been poisoned by o ergot from 

 very early days, chiefly, however, in those countries where rye bread is 

 used. The ergot is ground up with the grain, and the flour is thus rendered 

 unfit for food. 



SYMPTOMS : The symptoms of ergot poisoning have been well described 

 by J. H. McNeil, as follows: 



"Ergot stimulates the nerve centres that cause the contraction of the 

 small blood vessels supplying the different parts of the body, and cause 

 one of the two forms of ergotism, viz., a nervous /orm and a gangrenous 

 form. 



"Nervous Ergotism: In this form the contraction of the blood vessels 

 of the brain produces dullness and depression. The animal also suffers 

 from gastro-intestinal catarrh, refuses food, and gradually passes into a 

 condition of general wasting. The nervous form, however, may assume 

 an entirely different aspect, and the animal dies suddenly in delirium or 

 spasms, or gradually from paralysis. 



'Ergot has been found on the following grasses in the West: Agropyron Smilhii, 

 Deschampsia cceypilosa, Agropyron tenerum, Agropyron repens, Calamagrostis hyperborea 

 elongala, Bromus inermis. 



It is impossible to say, until further study has been made, whether this ergot is 

 identical with the ergot of rye, or whether it may be one or more new species typical 

 of the West. 



