POISONS AND POISONING. 67 



ities, as the ears, tail, feet, etc. Cattle seem to be more susceptible 

 than other animals to the influence of ergot, possibly on account of 

 the slowness of the heart's action. When the effect of the poison has 

 become sufficient to entirely arrest the circulation in any part, the 

 structures soon die. The disorder manifests itself as lameness in one 

 or more limbs; swelling about the ankle which may result in only a 

 small slough or the loss of a toe, but it may circumscribe the limb at 

 any point below the knee or hock by an indented ring, below which 

 the tissues become dead. The indentation soon changes to a crack, 

 which, like it, extends completely round the limb, forming the line 

 of separation between the dead and living structures. The crack 

 deepens till the parts below drop off without loss of blood, and fre- 

 quently with very little pus. Ergot may cause serious irritation of 

 the digestive tract, or by acting upon the nervous system it may cause 

 lethargy or paralysis. It also operates to cause contraction of the 

 uterus, and may thus cause abortion. 



Treatment. — Regarding the treatment, change of food and local 

 antiseptics are, of course, indicated. The former may be useful as a 

 preventive, but when the symptoms have appeared the animal is nec- 

 essarily so completely saturated that recovery is likely to be tedious. 

 Tannin may be given iuternally in doses of one-half dram twice daily 

 for a few days to neutralize the unabsorbed alkaloids of the ergot. 

 At the same time give castor oil. To dilate the blood vessels give 

 chloral hydrate. Bathe the affected parts with hot water. If slough- 

 ing has gone far, amputation must be resorted to. 



OTHER POISONOUS FUNGI. 



Many other fungi poison herbivora. In some instances, however, 

 where fungi are blamed for causing disease their presence on the food- 

 stuff or herbage is but coincidental with some other and more potent 

 disease-producing factor. For example, if the conditions are favor- 

 able to the growth of fungi they are also favorable to the growth of 

 bacteria, and bacteria may produce poisons in foods. In general it 

 may be said that any food that is moldy, musty, or putrid is possibly 

 dangerous. Silage, properly cured, does not belong to this class, 

 because the curing of silage is not a bacterial process. But spoiled 

 silage and silage matted with mold is dangerous and should not be fed. 



POISONING BY ANIMAL PRODUCTS. 

 SNAKE BITES. 



The poison contained in the tooth glands of certain venomous rep- 

 tiles, particularly some of the snakes, which is injected into or under 

 the skin of an animal bitten by the reptile, is a very powerful agent. 

 It is likely to produce a serious local irritation, and in the case of the 

 more poisonous snakes serious constitutional disturbances, even to 



