i8 PARASITES— ERGOT. 



commonly ascribed to some infection or sympathy, but 

 it is c^uite clear that many cases assigned to sympathy 

 are really caused by the poison\)us ergot. A case 

 is mentioned in the Field where ergotism appeared 

 amotigst eighteen cows in a dairy. The animals' legs 

 began to swell as high as the hock joint, and in about 

 a week the hoofs began to slough off. Some cases 

 assumed a more severe form — the appetite failed, scab 

 formed from the top of the hoof to above the fetlocks, 

 and the parts below the line of the scab rotted off. 



This subject is worthy of the most serious attention, 

 for losses, one year with another, from abortion and 

 other animal ailments incurred by ergot in Britain may 

 be estimated at as much as is caused by foot and 

 mouth disease. 



Treatment of ergotism, as a matter of course, includes 

 the removal of the animals from the place where ergot 

 is found ; or, in the case of ergotised fodder having 

 been supplied, a change of food at once. Medical 

 treatment, including the use of antiseptics and restora- 

 tives, will prove in some instances beneficial ; but it 

 is obvious that in this disease prevention is far more 

 important than cure, and what is wanted is a deter- 

 mined effort to stamp out the pest. Meadow grasses 

 should be cut before the period when the ergot spurs 

 develop on the flower-head. Special attention should 

 be paid to the corners of fields, to places under the 

 shade of trees, and to the banks of streams and 

 ditches. It is in such situations, where coarse grasses 

 grow, that ergot is most likely to be found, and care 

 should be taken to cut down such grasses in good time 

 to prevent the pest being propagated. 



Farmers might offer a small reward per dozen for 



