v] Ergot and Clover Sickness 61 
The poisoned animals often become lame. In very 
bad cases the extremities, such as the tail, hoofs, ears, 
and teats, may dry up and fall off. Another effect of 
feeding on ergot, which is very important from the 
farmer’s point of view, is that it often causes abortion 
in cows fed on infected pastures. 
In Russia and countries where rye bread is eaten 
this fungus brings about the above ailments in human 
beings and a number of lives have been lost through it. 
If the sclerotia are kept for some time they gradually 
lose their poisonous properties. 
Remedial Measures. 
The sclerotia of this fungus are often present as 
impurities in seeds. They are sometimes mistaken for 
rats’ droppings, but by breaking them it is easy to dis- 
tinguish between the two as the sclerotia are whitish 
inside. All seeds should be carefully examined and 
any ergot present should be screened or picked out. 
This disease is not noticed in its earlier stages, as 
it works hidden away under the chaff of the grasses 
or rye. When noticeable the sclerotia are already 
formed. In the case of infected pastures cattle should 
be taken off immediately and the grasses which have 
seeded should be cut, collected, and then burnt. After 
this the pasture must be regarded as an “ergoted”’ one 
and grasses should not be allowed to go past the 
flowering stage. If they are cut just as the flowers 
are forming the fungus is kept down considerably as 
the sclerotia are prevented from forming. At the 
same time those in the hedges must be cut at the 
flowering’ stage. 
