50 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



I'LATE I\'. Microscopic anatomy of the liver — Continued. 



the livci-; (/ (I, the position of the- liver cells between the meshes of 

 the Cii])i]larics; ,1 ,1, branches of the hepatic artery to the interlobular 

 connective tissue and the walls of the large veins and large Ijile 

 ducts. These lii-:mclies are seen at /■ r and form the vena vascularis; 

 V T, vena \'ascularis ; i i, branches of the hepatic artery entci-ing the 

 substance of tlie loljule and connecting with capillaries from the inter- 

 lobular vein. The use of the hepatic artery is to nourish the liver, 

 wliile the other vessels carry blooil to be nicjdified by the liver cells in 

 certain important directions ; </, branches of the bile ducts, carrying 

 bile from tlie various lobules into the gall bladder and into the intes- 

 tines; .'■ X, intralobular liile capillaries between the liver cells. The.se 

 form a network of very minute tulies surrounding each ultimate cell, 

 whicli leceives the bile as it is formed by the liver cells and carried 

 outward as described. 

 Fig. 2. Isolated liver cells: c, blood capillar.v ; '/, fine bile capillary channel. 



Plate \. Eigot in hay: 1, bUiegrass ; 2, timothy; .3, wild rye; 4, redtop. 

 Ergot is a fungus which may affect any member of the grass family. 

 The spore of the fungus, by some means Ijrought in contact with the 

 undeveloped seed of the grass, grows, obliterates the seed, and prai-- 

 tically takes its place. When hay affected witli ergot is fed to animals 

 it is productive of a characteristic and .serious affection or poisoning 

 kno^^-n as ergotism. 



Plate YI. Ergotism, or the effects of ergot. The lower part of the limb of a 

 cow, showing the loss of skin and flesh in a narrow ring around the 

 pastern bone and the exposure of the bone itself. 



