Cryptogamic Poisoning in Ruminants. 305 



The same remarks apply largely to the action of the smuts, 

 which are often eaten in large quantities with impunity, especially 

 if plenty of water or succulent vegetables are allowed, whereas 

 under other conditions as in winter, under the action of cold, with 

 the usual water supply frozen up, and no succulent food, it proves 

 very destructive. 



Symptoms. These vary with the particular poison : With 

 mouldy bread the symptoms may come on promptly with indi- 

 gestion, tympany, constipation, marked irritation of the urinary 

 organs, and it may be nervous disorder. Sometimes, as noted 

 above, the narcotic action is shown with paresis or paralysis and 

 stupor without any manifest disorder on the part of the digestive 

 or urinary functions. 



Most commonly with mouldy fodders, grains, marc, or ensi- 

 lage the results are tardily developed and only after long con- 

 tinued use of the spoiled food. There is then loss of appetite, 

 and rumination, drivelling of saliva, some tympany, and ab- 

 dominal pain shown by frequent movement of the hind limbs, 

 lying down and rising. The bowels may be costive at first, but 

 this early gives place to a foetid diarrhoea, with weak rapid pulse 

 (100 per minute) palpitations and hurried breathing. The walk 

 becomes weak, unsteady, staggering or stumbling, and there may 

 appear marked paresis especially of the hind parts. When 

 nervous excitement sets in there may be twitching of the muscles 

 of the neck, shoulders or thigh ; the eye rolls or becomes fixed 

 and the pupils are dilated ; the muscles of the face are contracted 

 and the jaws clinched, with grinding of the teeth. Bellowing or 

 pushing of the teeth and nose, the forehead or horns against the 

 wall or other obstacles, or the dashing violently against obstacles 

 is occasionally observed, and indicates in most cases an unfavor- 

 able termination. 



The duration of the malady is uncertain. It may not be over 

 five or six hours in acute cerebral cases, and especially in sheep, 

 and again it may be prolonged for one or two weeks. Death 

 often takes place in convulsions. 



In gangrenous ergotism a necrotic sore with more or less 

 surrounding swelling may be seen, and a line of demarcation 

 forms of a pink or purplish aspect along which the separation of 

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