PARASITES— ERGOT. 17 



fungi. Misty, foggy weather and light rains assist the 

 propagation of the spores, but heavy rains are apt to 

 wash them away. Dry, hilly pastures — without trees 

 or hedges to prevent free currents of air — are not 

 favourable to the growth of this parasite. In medicine, 

 ergot is employed in modern practice to stimulate the 

 motor nerve-centres which are connected with the 

 uterus, in order to cause active contraction when that 

 organ has lost its muscular force. In large doses ergot 

 is an acrid poison — causing dulness, vertigo, dilated 

 pupils, intoxication, muscular tremblings, and tetanic 

 spasm, especially of the hind extremities, which after- 

 wards become paralysed. Dry gangrene is a final 

 result of the action of the poison ; and by degrees the 

 extremities, and even portions of the trunk, are rotted 

 and fall off. 



" The action of the ergot," says Mr. Walker, in his 

 book on " The Cow and Calf," " taken in such quantities 

 as it is found in our grasses, acts as an excitant upon 

 the womb of the pregnant cow, whereby the parts 

 contract, and give the animal a desire to abort the 

 calf. Its malignant influences are little dreamt of by 

 the majority of graziers. Thousands of cows annually 

 abort during wet seasons from eating the ergot grains 

 amongst the grass and fodder. It is no imaginary 

 evil, but has been proved by direct experiments insti- 

 tuted by men of undoubted veracity. It has been 

 given to the mare, the cow, the ewe, and the cat, and 

 has never failed to cause untimely birth when given 

 in proper quantities, and when the animal had arrived 

 at a certain stage in pregnancy." 



In many cases it has been noticed that when a cow 

 aborts in a herd many others follow suit. This is 



B 



