DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS I9 



poisoned by eating screenings from the thresher or 

 elevator that contain ergot. It may possibly be pro- 

 duced on pasture, particularly rye pasture, in years 

 favorable for the growth of this fungus. Ergot 

 grows mostly on the heads of rye, especially wild rye. 



The symptoms are a stiff, lame gait, like in rheu- 

 matism, swollen, tender joints and feet, and gan- 

 grene of different parts of the body. The extremi- 

 ties, especially the tail and ears, lose their natural 

 warmth and vitality, and deep red spots that be- 

 come black and dead looking form on the skin. A 

 part of the ears and tail finally cracks and drops off, 

 and the gangrenous tissue in other parts of the body 

 separates from the healthy part and drops out. The 

 mouth may also appear sore, the eyes swollen, and 

 the appetite interfered with. 



The treatment consists in examining into the char- 

 acter of the ration as soon as the symptoms manifest 

 themselves, and cut off that portion containing the 

 ergot. Hogs affected by ergot poisoning during the 

 cold weather should be given warm quarters, as this 

 prevents to some extent the sloughing of the extrem- 

 ities. Iodide of potassium can be given in ten or 

 fifteen grain doses in the slop twice a day. 



EFFECT OF EATING WHEAT AND BARLEY 

 BEARDS 



Hogs sometimes die when turned on wheat and 

 barley stubble, and around straw stacks. In some 

 cases the disease is a severe sore mouth, in others it 



