ERGOT A — ERGOT 311 



Ergot 



Corn Smut Cotton Eoot Bark 



Quinine Hydrastis 



To the above group must be added all other drugs which congest 

 the abdominal organs : 



1. Irritant and toxic volatile oils. 



2. All other intestinal irritants. Potassium Permanganate, Can- 

 tharides, Quinine, Digitalis, Oxalic acid. 



3. Drastic purgatives. 



In regard to the above statements it should be noted that prac- 

 tically all of the drugs mentioned, in large doses, produce severe if 

 not fatal gastroenteritis. The hyperemia resulting from this in- 

 flammation does not remain localized in the intestines but extends to 

 the other abdominal organs, which although not directly influenced 

 by the drugs, take part in the inflaromation. One of the most im- 

 portant and first organs to become affected is the uterus. This 

 accounts for the use of irritants as ecbolics. Many organic irritants, 

 volatile oils, have considerable reputation as ecbolics, but this action 

 is only secondary to the inflammation of the digestive tract which in 

 many cases may be severe enough to cause death without producing 

 abortion. 



General Indications. 1. As oxytoxics during labor to stimu- 

 late a tardy expulsion of the fetus when the cause of dystokia is 

 simply due to inertia of the uterus. 



2. After parturition to check post partum hemorrhage by causing 

 contraction of the uterus and thus diminishing the size of the bleed- 

 ing capillaries. They are of but little if any use in veterinary 

 medicine for this purpose. 



3. After parturition to contract the uterus and so lessen liability 

 of prolapse of the organ. 



ERGOTA — ERGOT 



Synonyms. Ergot of Eye, Secale Cornutum, Spurred Eye 



Ergot is the sclerotium of a parasitic fungus, Claviceps purpurea, 

 which replaces thcvhead of the common rye. This sclerotium repre- 

 sents a period of development of the fungus which is between the 

 mycelium and the spore bearing thallus. It is obtained largely from 

 Eussia, Germany and Spain. It occurs as hornshaped pieces, about 

 % to 1 inch long, and Vs inch thick and has a peculiar oily taste. 



