90 Fungi [ch. 



the leg and a considerable part of the muscular tissue had sloughed off 

 the animal died on the third day. In other cases horses showed symp- 

 toms twenty-four hours after eating ergoted hay: fatigue, indisposition 

 to work, cold sweat, particularly on the neck, paralysis of the tongue and 

 muscles concerned in swallowing, and then generaUzed paralysis, very 

 slow and deep respiration, subnormal temperature, normal pulse at first 

 and then weaker till scarcely distinguishable, death in six or eight hours 

 (Chesnut and Wilcox). 



According to Pammel ergotism manifests itself among animals 

 chiefly in the chronic form, the poison being acquired in small amounts 

 and accumulation taking place slowly. Two distinct forms of the disease 

 are recognized, the spasmodic and gangrenous. " Symptoms referable to 

 the digestive tract, such as nausea, vomiting, colic, diarrhoea, or consti- 

 pation occur in both forms. Pregnant animals very frequently abort." 



"In the spasmodic type of the disease, symptoms due to over- 

 stimulation of the central nervous system appear. These are tonic 

 contraction of the flexor tendons of the limbs, anaesthesia of the ex- 

 tremities, muscular trembhng, general tetanic spasms, convulsions and 

 delirium. Death usually occurs from secondary causes." 



"Gangrenous ergotism is characterised by coldness and anaesthesia 

 of the extremities, followed ultimately by dry gangrene of these parts. 

 The effects of this dry gangrene are often very serious and amount to 

 sloughing of the feet, tips of the ears, tip of the tail, shedding of the hair, 

 teeth, etc. Death takes place from exhaustion. 



"Acute poisoning is characterized by vomiting (in dogs), profuse 

 sahvation, dilatation of the pupils, rapid breathing and frequent pulse. 

 The animal cries out, has convulsive twitchings, staggering gait, para- 

 plegia, intense thirst and coma, terminating in death." 



In an extensive outbreak of ergotism in the United States in 1884 

 Law and Salmon reported as a prominent symptom ulceration of the 

 mucous membrane of the tongue and mouth cavity, this and lesions 

 on the extremities giving the appearance of foot-and-mouth disease. 

 Affected animals showed weakness, dullness, and paralytic conditions 

 of certain groups of muscles. When in pregnant animals the uterus is 

 acted upon, labour pains occur, and the foetus is expelled. The straining 

 in those cases is often very painful and may be so severe that prolapsus 

 of the uterus or even the rectum is the result. When Ergot produces 

 gangrene, it usually affects the extremities, like the lower parts of the 

 legs, the ears, tail or teats in cattle, and the comb, wattles, toes, wings 

 or tongue of poultry. It is preceded by redness, coldness, and painful 



