68 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



green sorghum and Kafir corn forage (when stunted or frosted), lily 

 of the valley, aconite, oleander, jimson weed, green potatoes and po- 

 tato sprouts, and poison rye grass {Lolium temulentum) . 



Ergotism. — The poisonous etfects of ergot (Pis. V, YI) appear 

 chiefly in the winter and spring of the year and among cattle. It is 

 developed among gi'asses grown on rich soil in hot, damp seasons. 

 Eye seems more liable to ergot than any of our other crops. Of the 

 grasses which enter into the composition of hay, bluegrass is the 

 most likely to become affected. Ergot may also affect redtop, oats, 

 grasses, and grains. On the plant the fungus manifests itself on the 

 seeds, where it is easily recognized when the hay is examined in the 

 mow. The ergotized seeds are several times larger than the natural 

 seeds — hard, black, and generally curved in shape. 



The effect of the protracted use of ergot in the food is pretty well 

 understood to be that of producing a degeneration and obstruction of 

 the smaller arterial branches. The result is to shut off the blood sup- 

 ply to the distal i)arts of the body, where the circulation is weakest, 

 and thus to produce a mummification or dry gangrene of the extrem- 

 ities, as the ears, tail, feet, etc. Cattle seem to be more susceptible 

 than other animals to the influence of ergot, possibly on account of 

 the slowness of the heart's action. When the effect of the poison has 

 become sufficient to entirely arrest the circulation in any part, the 

 structures soon die. The disorder manifests itself as lameness in one 

 or more limbs; swelling about the ankle which may result in only a 

 small slough or the loss of a toe, but it may circumscribe the limb at 

 any point below the knee or hock by an indented ring, below which 

 the tissues become dead. The indentation soon changes to a crack, 

 which, like it, extends completely round the limb, forming the line 

 of separation between the dead and living structures. The crack 

 deepens till the parts below drop off without loss of blood, and fre- 

 quently with very little pus. Ergot may cause serious irritation of 

 the digestive tract, or by acting upon the nervous system it may cause 

 letharg}' or paralysis. It also operates to cause contraction of the 

 uterus, and may thus cause abortion. 



Treatment. — Regarding the treatment, change of food and local 

 antiseptics are, of course, indicated. The former may be useful as a 

 preventive, but when the symptoms have appeared the animal is nec- 

 essarily so completely saturated that recovery is likely to be tedious. 

 Tannin may be given internally in doses of one-half dram tw'ice daily 

 for a few days to neutralize the unabsorbed alkaloids of the ergot. 

 At the same time give castor oil. To dilate the blood vessels give 

 chloral hydrate. Bathe the affected parts with hot water. If slough- 

 ing has gone far, amputation must be resorted to. 



