CHAPTER V. 

 DIETETIC AND CONSTITUTIONAL DISEASES, 



Ergotism. Goitre. Rheumatism. Acute Anasarca. Purpura Hemor- 

 rhagica. Ansemia. 



ERGOTISM. 



From time immeiborial animals and men have suffered 

 from eating the cereal grains which have been attacked 

 with ergot. This was especially the case when agriculture 

 was in its infancy, for then a damp, cloudy season would 

 cause this affection to spread after the manner of a plague. 

 The same holds stiU to a less extent, and in the New 

 World as well as the Old. Not only the ergot but even the 

 smut of maize will bring about untoward effects. These 

 results may be divided into three categories according as 

 the poison acts on the hrain producing convulsions, paraly- 

 sis or profound lethargy ; on the ivomb tending to abortion ; 

 or on the extremities causing dry gangrene. 



Symptoms of the Nervous Form. Unsteady gait, a great 

 tendency to lie down and to remain in a torpid state httle 

 conscious of what is passing around, loss of lustre of hair 

 or feathers, coldness of skin, dilatation of the pupils of the 

 eyes, and dullness of the special senses mark the early 

 stages. This may go on to paralysis or deep lethargy 

 without any active nervous excitement. Or paroxysms 

 supervene, during which the special senses become more 

 acute, the animal very excitable, and twitching of the mus- 

 cles or spasms like those of lockjaw or epilepsy convulse 

 the patient. Then there is a relapse into the former stupor 

 and drowsiness, with palsy of the hind limbs or knuckling 



