USES OF ERGOT 443 



the tone and arresting hemorrhage from the non-pregnant womb^ as well 

 as following parturition. Ergot and pituitrin are the oxytocics in most 

 common use. 



Administration. — The fluidextract is generally given by the mouth. 

 Some proprietary preparations are made for subcutaneous use. The prep- 

 aration known as "Ergot Aseptic," and sold in glass ampules containing 

 one dose (for average-sized bitches), is most convenient for hypodermic 

 use in small animals to stop post-partum hemorrhage. Bonj can's ergotin, 

 or the official extract, are employed hypodermatically. 



Extr. Ergotae gr.xi. 



Alcohol. 



Glycerlni. 



Aq. dest -. aa 3i- 



M. 



Sig. Give one-half subcutaneously to a horse; 10 

 to 16 M. to dogs. 



Injections should be made deeply into the muscular tissue to avoid 

 abscess. Ergot should be repeated frequently to arrest hemorrhage. 



Toxicolo<gy. — Enormous single doses are required to poison animals 

 or man. When as much as two drams of ergot to the pound, live weight, 

 are given to dogs, death is not constant. Three ounces, however, have 

 proved fatal to small dogs. Acute poisoning is characterized by vomiting 

 (in dogs), diarrhea, profuse salivation, dilation of the pupils, rapid 

 breathing, and feeble, frequent pulse. The animal cries out, has con- 

 vulsive twitchings, staggering gait, paraplegia, intense thirst, icterus, 

 coma, and death takes place by respiratory failure. Abortion may occur 

 in pregnant animals. Horses, cattle, and sheep are unaffected by any 

 ordinary quantity of the drug. ' 



Chronic poisoning or ergotism rarely occurs in animals owing to con- 

 tinuous ingestion of ergotized grains. It is characterized by gastro- 

 intestinal indigestion, with nausea, vomiting, colic, diarrhea or constipa- 

 tion, and abortion often ensues in pregnant animals. In addition to 

 gastro-intestinal irritation the symptoms naturally assume two forms: 

 1, the gangrenous form; 2, the spasmodic form. In the first variety of 

 ergotism there are coldness and anesthesia of the extremities, including 

 the feet, ears, and tail of quadrupeds ; the comb, tongue and beak of 

 birds — followed by the appearance of passive congestion, blebs, and dry 

 gangrene in the vicinity of these parts. The hoofs and beaks often drop 

 off. Death ensues from general exhaustion. In the spasmodic form (due 

 to spasm of arteries of central nervous system), are seen tonic contrac- 

 tion of the flexor tendons of the limbs and anesthesia of the extremities ; 

 muscular trembling and general tetanic spasm, with opisthotonos, con- 

 vulsions and delirium. Death also occurs from asthenia. When a cock 

 is given large doses it becomes drowsy, breathes with difiiculty, sways in 

 standing, loses appetite and often has vomiting and diarrhea with ano- 

 rexia. The comb and wattles become of a dusky purple. With larger 

 doses the comb becomes gangrenous, dries and falls, and there may be 

 gangrene of the legs, tongue and wing, but recovery may ensue if the 

 drug is withheld. 



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